Stop and Notice: How Nature Study Trained Our Eyes to See
By: Sarah Stabenow
When we first started homeschooling in the Bay Area, being outdoors came naturally. We had endless creeks, trails, and golden afternoons to explore. Spending hours outside with my young children was easy. But when I began using Charlotte Mason’s methods, the idea of keeping a nature journal was new to me.
I handed my six-year-old a notebook, a cheap watercolor palette, and time in nature. I didn’t give much instruction, mainly because I didn’t have any to give, and she was simply afforded the time and space to explore and paint. Her first pages were, let’s just say, less than remarkable. After a few weeks, I began to wonder what the point was and if I should let her simply play.
But then something shifted. On our walks home, she began asking, “Did you see that spider?” “Did you notice how the cloud moved?” “Did you hear that bird?” Sadly, I hadn’t. While I was busy wrangling a toddler, she had been observing. Quietly, through time and freedom outdoors, she was forming what Charlotte Mason calls the habit of attention. Her notebook might not have been a masterpiece, but her eyes were open to the wonders around her.
Over the years, we’ve moved, from the Bay Area to Southern California, Texas, and now Arkansas. Not every place offered endless good-weather days, but we made it work. I kept a basket of nature study supplies by the door, ready to grab—a gentle reminder that God’s beautiful world was always waiting for us, even if it was just our own backyard. We’ve chased super blooms in Southern California, listened to cicadas hum in the Texas heat, and watched cardinals flash red against winter branches in Arkansas.
John Muir Laws wrote in The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, “You can train yourself to be more curious. Be active, bold, intentional, and playful with your questioning. Seek out mysteries and the world opens itself up to you.” That’s exactly what I’ve seen unfold in my children (and myself!). Curiosity can be cultivated, one notebook page, one question, one moment of noticing at a time.
There’s no one “right” way to do nature study. Your own enthusiasm is the best starting point. If you’re interested, it’s contagious. My best advice: don’t make it an assignment—make it an adventure with them! And don’t worry about perfect notebook pages; focus on the noticing.
For ideas and inspiration, explore Alveary’s Outdoor Work or the Charlotte Mason Natural History Club Guides (Year 3 Guides just released!) And remember, a walk with friends, neighbors, or grandparents makes it all the more delightful.
This week, grab your nature journal, or simply step outside with eyes ready to notice, and see what wonders await. Consider sharing your experience in the Hive.
Lesson Plan Spotlight
Looking for a new free read or read aloud? Explore the Alveary Bookshelf, hundreds of curated living books, organized by subject and grade. Find it on your Alveary Dashboard under Resources!
Notes
- Member Survey: Your feedback matters! We’re always working to make Alveary the best it can be and we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts by November 4th for a chance to win some Alveary merch!
- In the Company of Ideas: We’ve been enjoying great reads together in our Hive Circle! This November, we’re diving into Prisoners of Geography. Grab your copy and join the discussion!
- Scheduling Q+A: Just getting started? Need help tweaking your schedule in the Dynamic Planning Tool or Syllabird? Or thinking about switching from print lesson plans to Alveary+? Join our informal Scheduling Q&A (November 6th @ 3:30 pm EST)—no question is too small! This session won’t be recorded, so come ready to ask away. RSVP here.
- Advent Guide: The 2025 Advent Guide is here. The weekly format is rich enough to be used year after year and flexible enough for a busy family to supplement with other resources. Download here and share with friends!
- Conference: The Guiding with Grace Virtual Conference Ticket is still available! Gain access to all keynote sessions plus 23 professionally recorded workshops. Want a preview? Enjoy these short snippets for a taste of what’s waiting for you. Seeing With New Eyes and Citizenship in the Curriculum
