August 14, 2007   Hey There Mommy Pals!   Anybody hot? Well, it is H-O-T here in Alabama. We topped 104 today. I think that was in the shade! ha!   I am so excited about the school year, but I am just listless with my energy. So, what better way to get fired back up than some really fun and cool Nature Study ideas? That is our topic for this ezine. Even the most reluctant mom will love these ideas. Just dig in!   That is not all. I am including an audio that I am sending to you with love. It is an entire evening workshop just for you as you kick off your new school year. Grab some mom-time and settle in for a message from my heart to yours.   Ready for these goodies? Well, let's do it! Grab a big cup of tea...or hot chocolate...and let's dig in for a fun mom-time!   Happy homeschooling!   Cindy   http://www.CindyRushton.com http://www.CindysDesktop.com http://www.MomtoMomRadioShow.com http://www.MomtoMomPodcast.com   http://www.Writers-Nook.com http://www.Playmasters.info  http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com http://www.UltimateHomeschoolExpo.com   Our Half Off Sale! Stock up on all of our past studies, ebooks, audio Mp3 downloads!  You have GOT to see this sale! Time to stock up!   http://cindyrushton.com/HotSummerSale.html Hot??? The PERFECT Time For Summer Nature Studies!  by Cindy Rushton   Loose in Nashville, Tennessee It is H-O-T in Alabama. Our temp today has already busted 104 degrees. I am praising God for air conditioning right now. You have to know that I am the very gal who really believes that she will melt before the seasons change. Any of you relate? Well, you will love this article. I want to share some fun ideas to keep your Nature Studies alive, even while it is HOT! I think you will love these ideas and find some great ideas to keep your crew from getting bored. Let's dig in... How about a Nature Walk? Don't forget your Weekly nature walk! Seem way too sweltering to get outside? Try evening nature walks. That is the only time I can stand to get outside, but that is not a bad time. We have seen all kinds of little critters scampering about. Plus, there is something different about getting out in the evening that brings out things that we seem to miss at other times of the day. So, don't miss your nature walks--especially in the summer! Pull Out Those Notebooks! Yep! Pull out those Nature Notebooks today! This is the perfect time to work in your nature notebooks.  Have no idea what to add? Here are some tips for some great activities to help you find additions to your notebooks: Study Trees...     Collect and press leaves from your trees. Mark the date and where found for each leaf.  Mount in your nature notebook.  Leave room for the trees flowers, fruit, and autumn leaves.  This topic makes a great notebook or scrapbook of its own.     Sketch your tree in watercolor or crayon for your nature notebook.     Find nice leaves to use for a nature rubbing.  One other nice touch would be to do a nature rubbing of the bark of your trees too.  Don't forget to label.     Hunt for summer poetry about trees.  Copy into your nature notebook.     Look up Scripture verses about trees.  Copy into your nature notebook. Study Flowers...     Each week take a walk to collect new wildflowers around your neighborhood. Press into a scrapbook/nature notebook.     Make a wildflower calendar...cards...or other flower projects. (See Ideas Section of Nature Study the Easy Way by Cindy Rushton if you need specific instructions.)     Sketch and label flower parts in your notebook.      Hunt for poetry about the flowers that are blooming each week. Copy into your nature notebook.     Find Scripture verses to copy into your nature notebook about all flowers.     Plant some flowers outside in your yard. Take pictures of each step in their growth. After they bloom, pick a few, press and add to your nature notebooks.     Plant spring bulbs now. Just a reminder! Not in your notebook, of course! Study Birds...     Set out a bird feeder for birds around your home.  Put one right outside of a big window so the children can watch the birds up close. Take snap-shots for your nature notebook. If you have time, let the children sketch the birds that show up and add the sketches to your notebook.     Set out nesting materials for birds common to your area. Make a list of what you put out and keep that list in your notebook.     Watch the birds as they gather materials for their nests. Maybe you can see where they are building their nests and watch them as they feed their young. Take pictures or sketch for your notebooks.     Hunt for bird feathers.  Keep in your nature notebook.  Be sure to note where found, what type of bird and date found.     Hunt poetry about birds you see in your yard.  Copy into your nature notebook!     Hunt Bible verses about birds to copy into your nature notebooks. Study Insects...     Watch a caterpillar change.  Collect in a jar.  Watch as it changes! Take pictures or sketch the changes. Add pictures and sketches to your notebooks. Study Animals...     Go to the zoo.  Sketch animals and their young. Write a narration to go along with your picture and add to your nature notebook.     Watch for baby chicks.  Take pictures or sketch for your nature notebook.     Visit an animal farm. Take pictures or sketch for your nature notebook. Study Plants...     Gather seeds.  Add to your seed collection.  Label, date, and note where found!     Go on a hunt for mosses.  Try to identify.   Take pictures or sketch for your nature notebook.     Hunt for lichens.  You may want to collect some to display on the seasonal table.  Identify.  You may want to sketch for your nature notebook.     Study about the different types of plants within the plant kingdom.  Make a chart to show divisions of the plant kingdom. Add your chart to your nature notebook.     Plant some seeds outdoors.Take pictures of each step in their growth. Add to your nature notebook.     Try your hand at growing herbs. Take pictures and journal your adventure.     Plant some night-blooming plants (Nicotiania, Datura, Evening Primrose, Moonflowers, Cereus...) to observe and enjoy.  They are especially pleasant when planted right outside of your window. You may want to sketch for your nature notebook.     Sow sunflower seeds.Take pictures of each step in their growth. Add to your nature notebook.     Make a seaweed collection. Take pictures to add to your nature notebook.     Go to pick berries.  Make jelly or jam. Take pictures of EVERYTHING! Study Astronomy...     Keep a chart of the moon phases for a month--try May! Add to your nature notebook.     Take an evening to spend stargazing. Journal about it in your nature notebook.     Watch for meteor showers around August 10-13. Journal all about it in your nature notebook. Study Weather...     Keep weather chart for two weeks or a month. Add to your nature notebook. There are so many things that you can add to your Nature Notebook. Add a reminder regularly to your lessons plans so you can seize the seasons. Add the ideas above and any others that come to your mind to your calendar today. This is definitely a great season to add many treasures to your notebooks. That is not all. One other thing to remember during this hot summer is add to your Nature Study collections. If you haven't set up any nature study collections, let each child begin a collection of nature "treasures" of their very own. It could be rocks, shells, feathers, insects, pressed leaves/flowers, pictures of trees/flowers, etc. Let them loose to begin their own collection. Regularly schedule a day to maintain each of your collections! Finally, set up a Seasonal Table. There are some great ideas in Victorian Family Celebrations by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  (This book is a MUST for nourishing Mom!!!)   For your seasonal table, just set up a table or a shelf in your home. Set out a display of treasures found outside throughout the various seasons...books that are favored read alouds each year during that particular season...or special crafts made especially during that season.  Decorate the table in different colors to go along with the seasons.  Let this be a project for the children to keep up throughout the year. Want some ideas for your Summer Seasonal Table? Look for these treasures in your back yard....     Geraniums     Melons     Shells     Seaweed     Bird mobile     Marine mural     Lichen     Colors...jewel tones So, what do you think? This is the perfect time while it is HOT to dig into some fun Nature Studies. Just have fun! NO pressure! Set aside the time today. Dig into Nature studies with fun and delight! Need more help? Check out Cindy's best-selling book, Nature Study the Easy Way. It is half off along with our other books and audios. Check our HOT Summer Sale: http://cindyrushton.com/HotSummerSale.html     A Special Audio Just for You!   Each week we offer you a free audio Mp3 for you to listen to during your chores or Mommy walk. These audios are FREE. Just download straight from this email or go online to our archives to download. Gearing Up for the Best Homeschool Year Ever! with Cindy Rushton  Ready to kick off a super school year? Well, let's gear up together for the best homeschool year ever. Grab some mom-time and settle in with this full evening seminar.   Part One Part Two End Your Scheduling Frustrations FOREVER! A Virtual Seminar with Lorrie Flem and Cindy Rushton  Everything is ONLINE! This set is a MUST! Order this week and get TWO ebooks free! (Make Your Own Brain-in-a-Binder and Let's Get Organized) Learn more about it today!   http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com/scheduling.html  History Super Seminar Set! IS RELEASED! This is an amazing set!     Anybody  want practical, real-life, proven ideas for teaching History to your children? Ready for practical how-to's? Real help is available from real homeschool moms who guarantee to make history EASY. Read on...     http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com/history.html      Don't forget! See Us Online! http://www.CindyRushton.com http://www.CindysDesktop.com http://www.MomtoMomRadioShow.com http://www.Writers-Nook.com http://www.Playmasters.info http://www.Talk-a-Latte.com http://www.UltimateHomeschoolExpo.com Don't forget!  Share us with a friend today!   They can subscribe to our ezine easily! Here is the link:   Subscribe Here!     Our Ezine Web Archive: http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?hsew