October Nature Journal Calendar
It’s good to make a practice of getting outside year around, even in high school. Even if all you do is take a brain break outdoors before getting back to school, it’s time well spent. Nature Journal Calendars are a collaboration between, our daughter, Rebecca, and I. She created the calendar downloads and I created the posts and additional activities that go with them. The October Nature Journal Calendar is free to download and it along with this post will guide you and your students to some seasonal nature observations.
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Welcome to the new nature journal calendar! Enjoy the month of October and print your October Nature Journal Calendar to help you record what’s going on in your own backyard and beyond.
How to Use the Nature Journal Calendar
There’s no right or wrong way to use the nature journal calendar. Here are a few tips:
- Download your printable calendar.
- Print the calendar.
- Use the prompts both on the calendar and below to explore some elements of nature in September.
- Draw or write your observations in the blank calendar squares. That’s why there are so many blank spaces- so you don’t feel pressured to do a million things and so that you have room to doodle it up right on the calendar.
- Put them together in a notebook or handmade book and wait for next month and a new calendar.
- Have fun!
October Nature Connections
It’s officially autumn! In October in upstate NY the weather is a mixture of warm sunny days and cooler, rainy, windy days and evenings as autumn wears on. The days continue to shorten, the leaves are turning colors and beginning to fall, and the insects are slowing down their end of summer song. What does October look like where you live? Enjoy these early fall nature connections:
- Notice the last of the season’s wildflowers– What’s blooming now? Goldenrod and ragweed are likely giving allergy sufferers a hard time.
- Observe bird migration– Do you see flocks of birds traveling? Maybe you will see birds you don’t normally see, but keep and eye out. Birds are on the move. Bird friends who stay for the winter are visiting the backyard feeders again.
- What are the animals doing? Be on the lookout for animals preparing for winter.
- Fall Colors– Do you see a change in the landscape? What happens this time of year and how does it happen? Younger students might want to know why things are changing.
- Look for animal tracks– We’ll be sharing how to collect tracks, but for now see if you can find animal tracks in your yard and beyond.
- Last harvest– Gardens are winding down and we’re getting the last of this year’s harvest where it gets cold. Take the time to visit the pumpkin patch!
No need to feel limited by our ideas! If you see something you want to note, then go ahead and put it on your calendar. We’ve been walking, listening, and taking in the warm, sunny fall days while they’re here!
Books for Nature Study in October
We love to share our most loved nature books and resources with you. This month we’re sharing:
- Five in a Row Nature Study Fall– This is a delightful walk through the season with your child featuring things to spot, printables to use, poems, art, and recipes.
- A Field Guide to Animal Tracks– We have an older edition of this book by the author.
- Tracks & Trailcraft– A seminal text on all things animal tracks including insects and how to recognize them on any type of terrain.
- Trees of Northern United States & Canada– This is a text which includes a dichotomous key for tree species along with photographs.
- Forest Guides– This is a link to an eastern guide, but there are western guides and guides for other areas of the world. Look for on that applies to yo ur neck of the woods and enjoy an overall view of forested habitats where you live.
October Literature Connections
It’s time for a list of fun books to read while you enjoy spring. The book list includes titles for preschool through high school. Read them outside for extra fun!
- Pumpkin Jack– The story of a boy and his jack 0′ lantern over the course of a year.
- Too Many Pumpkins– One of our family favorites, the story of a woman who hates pumpkins and what happens when some accidental pumpkins grow in her front yard.
- Why Do Leaves Change Color– This Let’s Find Out Science book is the best for explaining why the leaves change and fall off the trees.
- It’s Pumpkin Time– Another pumpkin growing book for young children
- County Fair– This is a picture book adaptation from a chapter of Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- By the Shores of Silver Lake– The Ingalls family moves farther west and there are wonderful descriptions of the lake and the surrounding habitat and wildlife.
- The Prisoner of Zenda– A classic tale of switched identities.
- In Search of the Castaways– The unofficial prequel to 20,000 Leagues under the Sea
- Frankenstein– This is a novel the first of its kind, science fiction.
More October Fun at Blog, She Wrote
These are some posts that you might enjoy as you make October plans.
Enjoy what the month brings!
Art & Nature Study with Beatrix Potter– Learn about this lovely naturalist and artist with lots of resources, reading, and activities.
Geography Quest Fall Foliage Treasure Hunt– Where do you find the best fall leaf colors? Can you you predict by forest type and climate? Enjoy this Geography Quest!
High School October Art Connections
The Art of Fall Mixed Media Workshop for Kids– from the Masterpiece Society. This is one of our all time favorites and it’s a lovely workshop for high school fine arts.
Fall Video Chalk Art Lessons– from chalkpastel.com You’ll find lots of super accessible art lessons to go with your fall studies. We have such great homeschool art memories. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!
Nature Journaling with Heather Woodie– this is the full set of 6 modules related to trees, wildflowers & fungie, mammals, insects, amphibians & reptiles, and birds.
Free 12- Month Nature Calendar Bundle
Subscribe and receive a free download of all 12 nature journal calendars with links to the posts here at BlogSheWrote.org.
