Sign up below to receive weekly tips & tools for homeschool science and we'll send you a FREE copy of 
The first time I saw Christmas lichen I was stunned. This dinner-plate-like lichen is festively colored and perfect to learn about during December, even though it only grows in along the Gulf Coast and coastal plains. The Christmas lichen is a brightly colored example of a crustose lichen. These types of lichens are often round, flat, and somewhat crusty. Crustose lichens typically grow on tree … [Read more...]
Danger! Learn About the Attractive Beauty of Fire {Chemistry in Nature}
As the weather turns cooler, the idea of cozying up around a fire seems more appealing. But did you know that fire is the result of a chemical reaction that releases light and heat? For this reaction to occur, it requires oxygen, heat, and a fuel source, like wood, oil, or coal. The oxygen combusts, or burns up, the fuel source creating water, carbon dioxide, heat, and light. This reaction is … [Read more...]
My Favorite Rock in The World {Petrified Wood}
Petrified wood has always fascinated me. It was a dream of mine to see this rock in person for a long time - one that I finally got to fulfill several years ago during an epic road trip out west. Petrified wood is a perfect example of a replacement fossil, which is a replica of something that was once alive, such as trees or sea creatures. The fossil forms when the living thing is trapped and … [Read more...]
Just in time for Thanksgiving {Turkey Nature Study}
Turkey hand-prints, turkey pine cones, and a whole host of other turkey-related activities are popping up all over the internet. So, I thought that it was about time that we talk turkeys - that is turkey nature study! Back in the early 1900’s, wild turkeys were hunted to near extinction. Nowadays, thanks to restoration programs, the wild turkey can be seen (or heard) in many forests throughout … [Read more...]
The Best Friend of Monarchs Everywhere {Beautiful Milkweed}
I am a huge fan of Monarch butterflies! By default, I am also a fan of the plants that feed the monarch caterpillars - the milkweed. This time of year, the milkweeds in the field by your house are starting to die off and release their seeds, like the one in the picture, which makes them super easy to spot. The Milkweed is a native plant to North America with over 100 different varieties. Inside … [Read more...]
Have you seen the amazing work of spiders? {Spider Webs}
I just finished reading Charlotte’s Web to my youngest, and like most children, he was captivated by the spiders incredible spinning skills. Every time we read this classic we become keenly aware of the spiders in our little patch of earth. And that’s how we came to spot this dew-kissed spider web carefully set between two trees in our backyard. Spiders spin their webs in all different kinds of … [Read more...]