Do you love penguins? Many people do! I think it might have something to do with their adorable appearance and cute, little waddle. Don't be fooled, though, these cuddly-looking creatures are masters of resilience as many of them face some of the harshest weather conditions on earth. Enjoy this penguin nature study with Mrs. Cindy! In the companion Penguins Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, embark on an expedition to explore the geography and unique habitats of each...
Jan 08, 2024•12 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Why are the wolves in Yellowstone National Park so special? Listen to find out! In the companion Wolves of Yellowstone Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study membership , learn about apex predators in the food chain, food webs, plant and animal populations, overgrazing, extirpation, and reintroduction in this fascinating, historical science lesson about balance in an ecosystem. Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com . Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month o...
Dec 29, 2023•14 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Which tree would make the most giant Christmas tree of all? Learn the answer to this question, with Mrs. Cindy! In the companion Redwood Trees Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, learn the deep science about redwood trees and their amazing adaptations that help our planet! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com . Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES for friends and family to join No Sweat N...
Dec 11, 2023•11 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know which animals are related to moose? Learn the answer to this question, as well as plenty of other facts about moose with Mrs. Cindy! In the companion Moose Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, explore moose habitats, their diet, and several amazing adaptations. Of course, we'll learn more about those amazing antlers, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com . Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership. B...
Nov 27, 2023•10 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Connect nature study and language arts with a study of idioms with Mrs. Cindy! CHRISTMAS! BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE → ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/ Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → https://ourjourneywestward.com/nature-idiom-nature-study Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper pencil colored pencils In the companion Nature Idioms Video Class found in the No Sweat Na...
Nov 13, 2023•11 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about beavers and their fascinating beaver dam habitats with Mrs. Cindy! Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → https://ourjourneywestward.com/beaver-nature-study Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper pencil colored pencils In the companion Beaver Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, learn about the behavior of beavers and their physical characteristics as you create a beaver habitat in your nature journal. You'll be amazed a...
Oct 31, 2023•12 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about myriapods and the important role these leggy creatures play in nature! Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → https://ourjourneywestward.com/myriapod-nature-study Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper pencil colored pencils In the companion Myriapod Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, learn about the anatomy of millipedes and centipedes as you discover their physical and chemical defense mechanisms. Create outline draw...
Oct 16, 2023•11 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about gliding mammals and their marvelous membranes called patagia with Mrs. Cindy! Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → ourjourneywestward.com/gliding-mammal-nature-study/ . Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper pencil colored pencils In the companion Gliding Mammal Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, learn how patagia work for flight, as well as starting, steering, and landing. Find out about at least one gliding mammal ...
Sep 25, 2023•10 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about black bears of the Great Smoky Mountains and see if you can list the eight species of bears found around the world! Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → ourjourneywestward.com/black-bear-nature-study/ . Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper pencil colored pencils In the companion Black Bear Video Class found in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, learn even more about black bears. As you create an athletic nature journal page, learn abou...
Sep 11, 2023•14 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Learn about George Washington Carver, a botanist whose love for plants led to many important scientific inventions that we still use today! Register for the FREE Spider Video Class → ourjourneywestward.com/free-spiders-nature-study-class/ Get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge → ourjourneywestward.com/george-washington-carver-nature-study/ . Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank white paper watercolors paintbrush bottle of water paper towels In the companion George Washin...
Aug 28, 2023•16 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast JOIN THE FREE SPIDER CLASS on August 29 at 2 pm ET! Register at https://ourjourneywestward.com/free-spiders-nature-study-class/ . What are macroinvertebrates? Come find out with Mrs. Cindy! You might be surprised that you see them all the time, especially in and around streams and ponds! To get the FREE Nature Walk Challenge that goes with this episode, visit the show notes page https://ourjourneywestward.com/macroinvertebrate-nature-study/ . ← Find images of macroinvertebrates here, too! Suppli...
Aug 07, 2023•16 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Night-blooming flowers open their petals at nighttime, usually just after sunset. They are also called nocturnal flowers. Some examples of night bloomers include jasmine, moonflowers, evening primrose, and angel’s trumpet. Night-blooming flowers can be found in different parts of the world, including tropical rainforests, deserts, and temperate forests. To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge, visit the show notes page https://ourjourneywestward.com/night-blooming-flowers-nature-study/ . ← Find a...
Jul 24, 2023•14 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Seashore plants are any plants that grow in or around the areas where the land meets the sea or other bodies of saltwater. These plants are adapted to living in harsh, salty, and often windy environments, and may be found in a variety of habitats, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, tidal pools, and salt marshes. Come learn more about them with Mrs. Cindy! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge , visit the show notes page https://ourjourneywestward.com/seashore-plant-nature-study/ . Supplies ...
Jul 10, 2023•13 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Seashore animals live in or near the ocean and are adapted to living in the intertidal zone, which is the area between the high tide and low tide marks. These animals can be found on rocky shores, sandy beaches, and tidal pools. They play an important role in the ecology of coastal ecosystems and I'm excited to share some of them with you in this episode! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge , visit the show notes page ourjourneywestward.com/seashore-animal-nature-study/ . Supplies for the nat...
Jun 26, 2023•15 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Brambles are a type of plant that produce berries, such as blackberries and raspberries. The berries are often eaten by humans and animals alike. Brambles have thorns on their stems, which can be sharp and prickly. These thorns can help protect the plant from hungry animals. Listen to learn about these amazing plants! To get your FREE Bramble Nature Walk Challenge , visit the show notes page https://ourjourneywestward.com/bramble-nature-study/ . ← Find images of brambles here, too! Supplies for ...
Jun 12, 2023•13 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast I recently had a wonderful homeschooling discussion with Katie Doughty from the Raising Kind Humans Podcast. This rich episode is full of wisdom and ideas on the topics of nature study, Charlotte Mason homeschooling, developing character and empathy through living books, and presenting a feast of activities to encourage joyful and fruitful learning. Here are just some of the topics you will find in the episode: Learn a little more about Cindy. Get tips for creative nature study. Learn how nature...
Jun 05, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast A garden pest is any insect, animal, or other organism that can cause damage to plants and gardens. They can be harmful to both ornamental plants and crops, and can negatively impact the health and productivity of the garden. Common garden pests include insects like aphids, caterpillars, and beetles, as well as animals like rodents, deer, and rabbits. Some pests are attracted to certain plants, while others can attack a wide range of vegetation. Come hear some of Mrs. Cindy's experiences with ga...
May 29, 2023•14 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know there are over 20,000 different species of bees in the world? Believe it or not, bees are insects that belong to the same family as ants and wasps. They play an important role in pollinating plants, which helps fruits, vegetables, and flowers to grow. Learn more about pollination as we discuss honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees with Mrs. Cindy! To get the FREE Nature Walk Challenge that goes with this episode, visit the show notes page → ourjourneywestward.com/bee-nature-stud...
May 08, 2023•14 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast In today's episode, we're exploring stinky things in nature! We often use our eyes to see things and our hands to touch things. We might even use our ears to listen. But have you ever thought about going on a nature walk with your nose? Concentrating on fragrant and malodorous things during a smelly nature study can be lots of fun! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge, visit the show notes page ourjourneywestward.com/smelly-nature-study . Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal...
Apr 24, 2023•16 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast Learning about strawberries is a fabulous way to explore botany – a special branch of biology all about plants. When we learn about plants in nature study, we discover that the fruit is the part of the plant that contains the seeds. Plants are classified into different groups based on the characteristics of their seeds. Learning about the seeds of strawberry plants and how they reproduce is pretty amazing! To get your FREE Strawberry Nature Walk Challenge, visit the show notes page at https://ou...
Apr 10, 2023•12 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast It's spring and that means you'll be seeing a lot more thunderstorms! Thunder is an amazing sound and lightning can be a beautiful sight, but it can be scary when a strong storm rolls in. Not to mention, some thunderstorms can be severe weather events. In this episode, you'll hear a funny story about Mrs. Cindy and her fear of thunderstorms as a kid, and you'll also and learn a fascinating weather science fact about how to track a thunderstorm. To get your FREE Thunderstorm Nature Walk Challenge...
Mar 27, 2023•13 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast Cindy West from No Sweat Nature Study LIVE and Richard Fink from The Vocal Gym by Throga have an interesting discussion about the science of vocals through the lens of nature study. Learn how sound is made and how animals use sound for communication. Nature study is an amazing tool for teaching hands-on, experiential science. Nature study IS science and even connects to the physics of sound in this episode! Need a hand with nature study? Here are several ways you can get extra help! FREE: Listen...
Mar 20, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Salamanders are beautiful, elusive amphibians, which means they can be hard to find on nature walks. When you do find one, it can slip away quickly giving you only a glimpse of the unique colors that make up its smooth, sometimes colorful skin. Listen to learn more about salamanders! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge for this episode, visit the show notes page at https://ourjourneywestward.com/salamander-nature-study/ . ← Find images of salamanders here, too! Supplies for the nature study c...
Mar 13, 2023•12 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Vernal Pools nature study isn't just about one type of plant or animal. Instead, vernal pools are complete habitats, home to many fascinating creatures including amphibians and macroinvertebrates! Have you ever heard the term "vernal pool"? I bet you know the word "pool" but do you know what "vernal" means? I can't wait to tell you all about it! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge, visit the show notes page https://ourjourneywestward.com/vernal-pools-nature-study/ . ← Find images of Vernal Po...
Feb 27, 2023•13 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Rock nature study might seem boring, but it can be fascinating if you know a little something about rocks. In this episode, you'll learn about sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is easily sculpted by wind and water to form stunning landscapes around the world! Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank, white paper colored pencils clear tape For show notes and episode downloads, go to ourjourneywestward.com/sandstone-nature-study . ← Find images of wild cats here! In the co...
Feb 13, 2023•13 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast I recently chatted with Sarah Mackenzie of Read Aloud Revival about using picture books alongside nature study to enhance learning. It was such a fun, casual conversation that I thought you might like to hear it too! Nature study is an amazing tool for teaching hands-on, experiential science. While nature study IS science, it easily connects to so much more across the curriculum. Reading picture books is one easy example of how to make cross-curricular connections. Learn how to make those easy c...
Feb 06, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are there wild cats roaming around where you live? We have seen bobcats on our farm and some neighbors once saw a mountain lion. These sneaky creatures don't necessarily like to be seen by humans, though, as they wander through various habitats in North America looking for food, water, mates, and places to take shelter. In the episode, learn which big and small wild cats live in North America. Have fun thinking about cats through the lens of adjectives, too! Supplies for the nature study challen...
Jan 30, 2023•13 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Winter is the perfect time to observe planets in the night sky. You can easily see Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn at different times in the early evening without the help of a telescope. Plus, because it gets dark so early, nobody has to stay up late! In the episode, learn tidbits of information about all the planets, not just the ones we can easily see, and enjoy a fun nighttime nature walk challenge. Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank, white paper markers SkyVie...
Jan 09, 2023•18 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast What's the difference between a wild dog and a domesticated dog? Both are in the family Canidae and there are plenty of similarities, but there are some important differences, too. We'll learn about those in this episode, as well as some other fun facts about wild dog packs and animal communication. Of course, you won't want to miss the nature walk challenge either! Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank, white paper colored pencils or watercolors For show notes and epi...
Dec 27, 2022•13 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Who doesn't love the smell of spices wafting through the December air as cookies bake in the oven or pomanders decorate your home? In this special Christmas nature study episode, learn about the traditional spices of Christmas. Besides science, you'll enjoy a mini history lesson to explain why these particular spices became popular in winter recipes, and you'll even get to think a little about world geography! Supplies for the nature study challenge: ground cinnamon ground cloves ground ginger g...
Dec 12, 2022•13 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast 
