Nature has always been an important part of my life, ever since I was a child, and this was one of the things I wanted to share with my children. To be able to discover it together, to see them explore it, in their own unique way, and to teach them nature’s importance, and how to protect it.
Nature is the one place where you can learn not only to connect with yourself but live in harmony with the environment. It teaches you to protect and respect life, and each living thing, big or small. Nature is also the place where you can find peace and the place where quietness is both inspiring and good for the mind and soul.
As Andy Goldsworthy said,
“We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.”
Our everyday life involves spending as much time as we can outside, learning about trees, gathering leaves or observing the animals in their own habitat, and the fact that we homeschool, is allowing us the freedom to grow up together and create a connection that it will last a lifetime.
One of my son’s favourite things to do is writing down all the events that happen on our daily walks, and after a long search, the forest journal from the forest vocabulary cards pack seemed to be perfect for him.
The pack consists of a forest journal, but also 36 vocabulary cards with forest elements, 3 nature quest printable for nature walks, as well as a 3-page vocabulary chart with smaller images and text. With beautiful illustrations, and also very detailed printable, it is the best I have come across.
Introducing children to the common names of plants, and other things we encounter in the forest, it teaches them how to differentiate various plants and trees, as well as mushrooms and berries as, but it can also be used for the nature table or displays.
My son loves it and whether we are at home or exploring the wilderness, he takes it everywhere with him, and he writes in it, draws in it, and stick pictures as well.
He likes to document his everyday adventures, adding as many details as he can remember ( and even some nature treasures, such as leaves or wildflowers).
The journal’s sections allow him to write down the date, write or draw the weather and include details of his trip such as what/where he has explored and other observations.
The nature quest charts are absolutely amazing, inviting as well as challenging, exploring while learning. I would say this is the perfect combination to draw a child’s attention to nature and awake his curiosity.
In a world where technology seems to be gaining more and more of our focus, and people are busier than ever, it is very important to slow down and breath. Take a break and connect with nature. Because, after all, nature is the best teacher we can have.
“May your paths into nature lead you along with adventures full of curiosity, humour and wonder.” ~ “The curious nature guide”, Clare Walker Leslie
About the Author:
As a child, I loved the trips I used to take with my father on the mountains, exploring the woods and fall in love with the natural world.
As an adult, I continued the journey, which took me halfway across the world, survived a plane crash and learned how to meditate in a Buddhist temple.
But in my journey, I have found myself, and the true essence of life.
As a mother, I wanted to share the love for nature with my children, and teach them values. Raise them to be good people, good friends, good neighbors, but most importantly, good husbands and fathers. To be free, and happy.
Our everyday life is a wonderful adventure, with good and bad, but we learn to embrace it all and learn from it. We read, we laugh, we create and explore without limits.
This is how “Our world of wonder” page began, from the desire of sharing our homeschool journey, hoping that our lessons and materials will inspire others as well. To promote the love for nature, and to share our desire of protecting it.
And to create a community where people can share kindness and support. A community where we share ideas and the love for art, music, and raising our children in a gentle way.
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