The Quiet of Wood and Field

"In the early ages, with the people who were under God's direction, life was simple.  They lived close to the heart of nature.  Their children shared in the labor of the parents and studied the beauties and mysteries of nature's treasure house.  And in the quiet of field and wood they pondered those mighty truths handed down as a sacred trust from generation to generation."  

  

This quote creates a beautiful word picture in my mind.  After reading it, I started thinking about the children of the Bible who had a strong relationship with nature.  The first  child to come to  my mind was baby Moses.  Even as an infant, he was placed for days in a reed basket and placed in the Nile River while his older sister kept watch.  He was rocked by the gentle action of the waves and among the fragrance of plants and the sounds of waterfowl.  David  also spent much time learning lessons from nature.  He was a skilled shepherd, even at a young age.  He wrote beautiful songs and poetry, and by studying them we can observe that he had a close relationship with the natural world.  He took lessons from everything around him.  The boy Jesus also spent much time in nature.  He was homeschooled at his mother's knee, by work with his father, and by observations  of nature in wood and field.  He learned about God's care and of life's lessons by observing God's creation.

What other children of the Bible can you think of spent quality time outdoors?  How did their experience influence them in adulthood?  Please share!

Source quote:  Education 221
Photo:  Baby robins in our flowering crab apple tree

Experiencing Nature with a Journal/Notebook

Most homeschool teacher-parents realize the importance of nature as they study with their children.  It teaches so many things --- of science, art, ecology, physical education, observation skills, and of God's care.  With thoughtful attention, even math, history, language arts can be taught in nature.  Treasure and scavenger hunts in the back yard support observation skills and mathematics if designed properly.  And there's no better way for a primary age child to learn how to write the alphabet than with a stick in the sand.  Following famous footsteps, like hiking along the Oregon Trail, combine nature with history.  A well-prepared parent will be full of stories to share as the hike progresses.  Nature provides many opportunities for a teacher-parent to create mini unit studies that enhance learning.  It doesn't need to be difficult or complicated.  Try putting together a one-day unit study that uses nature as the classroom and teaches across the curriculum.  You will be sure to have the interest of all ages!  And after a long winter of dreary days, spring is the perfect time to implement this.

Keeping a nature journal or notebook is an easy way to tie everything together.  I like the idea of using both to implement nature studies.  A small journal with both lined and unlined pages works to write sentences and paragraphs about things observed.  The blank pages work great for sketching, watercolor, or chalk drawings.  And a notebook works great for quick notes and for collections.  Gallon size zip-lock bags, punched with a three-hole punch, make pages.  Using twelve gives students one for each month of the year.  Page dividers, marked January through December, give the child a place to put notebook paper, their zip-lock bag for that month, and handouts from their teacher-parent that might be helpful in their nature study.  Mini field guides, diagrams of the parts of trees or flowers, or scanned photos of birds, animals, or bugs give them guidelines as they search and identify in the outdoors.  Plants and leaves gathered can be brought home to press and dry, and later can be glued or taped to notebook pages and marked according to identifying parts. A story could even be written about the objects in the notebook or about the events leading up to gathering what is shown.  Scripture can be quoted and copied as it pertains to things seen or gathered.  Handwriting practiced.  A camera that takes photos that can be downloaded into a computer and then printed and put in a notebook is a great way for a child to document and learn.  There are no age limits!  From preschool through adulthood, this is a learning adventure that encompasses all ages!  Creative, active, and enriching, a nature notebook is a fun way to enjoy God's creation and apply it to everyday learning and lifestyle.

Blender Moss

When nature is combined with a kitchen activity, it's a winning situation as far as children are concerned.  They generally enjoy playing in the dirt, gathering things, mixing, blending, and creating.  If there is an area in your yard that is shady and can be kept moist, propagating moss can be something fun to do!  Here's how:

1)  Go for a hike in the woods or take a trip to your local plant nursery.  Gather several varieties of mosses.  Some types may be better suited to growing conditions in your yard, so having more than one variety improves your chance of success.

2)  In the kitchen, crumble a handful of the moss into a blender bowl.  Add two cups of yogurt or buttermilk.  Blend, adding enough water to make the mixture spreadable.  Remove from blender and place in a bowl.  If compost is available, stir a bit in to fuel growth.

3)  Outside, find a place where you would like moss to grow.  Large rocks, an area of soil that is cleared of twigs, leaves, and weeds, or any other surface work well.  It's best if this area is in a shady place.  Using a broad paintbrush, spread the blended moss over the surface of the rocks, soil, or other desired areas.

4)  To establish the moss, mist it daily so that the area stays moist.  Keep the area clear of leaves and debris so that the moss isn't smothered.  Wait patiently.  This would be a good time to discuss patience as a character trait, because moss can take a long time to grow.  But, it is fun to observe over the weeks as progress is checked. 

A Gift to Treasure

Happy are the parents whose lives are a true reflection of the divine, so that the promises and commands of God awaken in the child gratitude and reverence; the parents whose tenderness and justice and long-suffering of God; and who, by teaching the child to love and trust and obey them, are teaching him to love and trust and obey his father in heaven.  Parents who impart to a child such a gift have endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of all the ages --- a treasure as enduring as eternity.

Ministry of Healing, page 375

Encouraging Words

Give the young and struggling a word of encouragement when you can.  You would not leave those plants in your window boxes without water, nor refuse to open the shutters that the sunlight might fall upon them; but you would leave some human flower to suffer from want of appreciation or the sunlight of encouragement.  There are a few hardy souls that can struggle along on stony soil --- shrubs that can wait for the dews and sunbeams --- vines that climb without kindly training; but only a few.  Utter the kind word when you can see that it is deserved. The thought that "no one cares and no one knows" blights many a bud of promise.  Be it the young artist at his easel, the young preacher at his pulpit, the workman at his bench, the boy at his mathematical problems, or your little girl at the piano, give what praise you can.

Signs magazine
September 14, 1882

Stories & Imagination

Experiences can come alive when told in a story.  Words tell the story and a child's imagination creates pictures in their mind, making the story vibrant and real.  Advocates of some methods of reading instruction suggest that children learn to read from books that don't have pictures for this very reason.  They believe that giving only the words aids the child in developing an imagination and creativity.  In a day when television, videos, and movies are the norm, and where children start watching them from infancy, it's wise to take a break at times and allow the imagination to work.  This can be accomplished not only by reading books without words, but by listening to stories.  Parents, grandparents, and older siblings enjoy reading to children.  But sometimes a child's eager mind works faster and for a longer period of time than a loved ones voice can last!  Quality stories on CD and online podcasts are a good resource when this happens.  

Here's an example from history that can help you and your child create word pictures in your mind as you listen to the words.  Purposely try this listening experiment and see what pictures and scenes your minds creates.  When the story is over, spend time talking together, comparing what scenes your imaginations have developed.  Share using all your senses:  sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing.  The story we are using for this experience comes from Your Story Hour.  It takes place during the Civil War in America and is about the night riders and George Washington Carver.  You can listen to the story here.  Don't forget to turn on your imagination!

Moore on Home Education

One of my favorite books on the subject of home education is Home Grown Kids, written by the grandfather of homeschooling in America, Dr. Raymond Moore.  In it he shares a way of thinking that was radical when he wrote the book thirty-some years ago!  Homeschooling, now considered a "right", was a "privilege" that was hard earned in its early stages.  He encouraged parents to embrace the right and responsibility of homeschooling.  Here's a quote from his book that reinforces this concept.

"No schoolroom can match the simplicity and power of the home in providing three-dimensional, firsthand education. The school, not the home, is the substitute, and its highest function is to complement the family. The family is still the social base, and must be, if our society is to survive. Let's leave no stone unturned to guarantee the fullest freedom of the home and the rights of parents to determine the education of their children."

Dr. Raymond Moore
Home Grown Kids page 26

Service: From Shoeboxes to DVD's

Service to others is a vital part of a child's education when striving to help them develop into an individual who is compassionate and cares for others.  Thoughtfulness and concern are principles that must be taught.  Work, study, and service are three key components in educating the whole child.


Finding service projects for children can be challenging.  Sometimes it isn't possible to go into the community on a frequent basis or to take a mission trip to a foreign land.  But, simple, small projects can be accomplished routinely from home.  By scheduling time into each day to work on simple service projects helps keep the principles of service foremost.  


Ideas for service projects have been shared here before.  Ideas range from making shoeboxes filled with toiletry, craft, and healthy snacks to send to children in need; making tray favors for food trays in a hospital or nursing home; or making scripture books out of photo albums, filling them with nature pictures and copies of favorite Bible verses.  Older students enjoy using technical skills to serve others.  In the photo (above) Matthew and Rylan are creating a multi-media presentation to be used in churches to raise funds for new schools for children in India. In light of current events, children trained in service might want to do something to help others who have been involved in a natural disaster like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  Humanitarian agencies, like ADRA, provide disaster relief and are first responders when an event occurs.  They do an excellent job of reaching out to children as well, assisting in giving ideas and opportunity to help others.  They have a free ADRA "Do Something Kit" which is an opportunity to put kids into action.  It's filled with fun activities that kids can do with their parents to get into the action of service.  It's free to download and includes instructions for becoming an ADRA Ambassador.  Also available is an ADRA for Kids website.  It's filled with stories, games, coloring sheets, and more.  


Enjoy the opportunity of assisting your child to learn the JOY of SERVICE!  You won't be disappointed.