We have had a great time jumping on board with the Handbook Of Nature Study Outdoor Nature Challenges! Each time we participate I get the greatest mom points. I’ve tried explaining we are just joining in with others, but they treat me like I’m Queen Nature Mom. This time we read the instructions together; they liked the part about the challenge of who could find the most items in their square – or at least that’s what they got out of the instructions. There just isn’t anything like a competition between brothers and the brothers competing against their virtual online friends in a contest to get the most out of an outdoor scavenger hunt. Even if the scavenger hunt is only one foot square. Favorite quote of the day, “Mom you have a slug on the back of your book.” Notice that the tiny baby slug is on a blade of grass. TINY.
Nate found the TINIEST little bug, maybe an earwig baby?
Here are our lists:
| Jon (age 9) | Mom | Nate (age 12) |
| Worm | Seed Pod | Leaves |
| Bud | Ivy | Grass |
| Grass | Leaves | Moss |
| Slug | Pine Cone | Sticks |
| Leaves | Buttercup Plants | Spider |
| Seed | Moss | Slugs, Baby |
| Sticks | Grass | Bark |
| Buttercup | Tree bud | Pinecones |
| Pinecone | Bark | Rope |
| Seed Pod | Slug Babies | Ruler |
| Bark | Dirt | Mud |
| The Rope. 🙂 | Roots | Dirt |
| Dirt | Worms | Seeds |
| Moss | Caterpillar type worm | Little Fly |
| Roots | Larvae | Caterpillar |
| Bigger Slug | Sticks | Little Worm |
| Baby Slug | Earwig | |
| Larvae | Larvae | |
| Weirder Larvae | I have no Idea Larvae | |
| Sumping Bug | Roots | |
| Sticks | Worms in the ground top | |
| Centipede | Little Worm on Top | |
| 22 Items | 16 Different Items | 22 Different Items |
We talked about the 3 layers that we investigated – the Grass, the Roots, and the Compact Dirt beneath. We found quite a few items on top, the grass layer, but found the most life in the root layer. Only the larvae and worms were in the compact layer.
Hop on over to the Handbook of Nature site to see how you can be inspired to spend an hour outside with the kiddos!
+Angie Wright
Pebblekeeper 
That’s great. Even with a slug on your book! 🙂
Oh that looks like such fun! I’m really looking forward to when we get to this study- sometimes it’s so easy to overlook all the tiny things in search of something much bigger.
Thanks Quinn! I have been enjoying your blog as well, great to get encouragement from each other! I see other family’s studies and think – oh I wish we could see this or that. . . . then we go outside and realize all we have! 🙂
We didn’t get to do this one, but you have inspired me to try it once it warms up here! It looks like a lot of fun!
What a great study! I love your pictures…very cool. We didn’t get around to doing this challenge, but I loved reading about yours 🙂
Thanks Amy – We didn’t do all of the Winter Challenges either – but it was fun to be aware of what we could see outside – and then jump in when it was near. 🙂
I would love for you to submit this to the OHC Blog Carnival.
http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_9182.html
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What a great approach to the square foot study! I love lists. Will have to follow your example the next time we study our square foot. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, you guys found a lot of neat things! Tomorrow I’ll have to show my kids the pictures of your creepy crawlies, since we couldn’t find any. : )
Thanks for visiting my entry!
Kellie @ Blue House Academy
I think you are “Queen Nature Mom”. 🙂
This is a great square foot study. I love so many things about it and a little competition is a good thing and can get us motivated.
Your photos are great and I would love to use one for the OHC Photo of the Week. Please let me know if that is okay with you. harmonyfinearts@yahoo.com
Thanks so much for sharing your study.
Barb