Summer Nature Study Ideas
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Summer may be one of the most wonderful months for nature study. The outdoors are just teeming with life and there’s something to discover almost anywhere you look. My family and I spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer months, so I thought it would be fun to put together a list of summer nature study ideas you can be on the lookout for during your next summer outing!
Summer Nature Study Ideas
There are so many things you can explore with your kids in the summer. All you really need to do is look around outside, but if you’re lacking inspiration here is a great list of ideas to get your started:
- Bees
- Clouds
- Ants
- Gardens
- The Night Sky
- Herbs
- Turtles
- Nests
- Creeks
- Toads/Frogs
- Hermit Crabs
- Birds
- Fireflies
- Oceans
- Wildflowers
Insect Studies
Summer is the perfect time to do an insect study. I’ve written blog posts on our Bee unit study and Butterfly unit study. We have studied ants, grasshoppers, beetles, fireflies, and so much more! It doesn’t take much hunting to find bugs in your backyard to observe.
Amphibian and Reptile Studies
Summer is the perfect time to study amphibians, too! We had the pleasant surprise of finding a ton of baby toads all over our yard this summer. We found out that a toad laid her eggs in some standing water we had in an old garden container. We were able to observe several tadpoles, too!
It’s also super fun to look for skinks and salamanders. Just get outside, explore, and see what you can find.
One of our favorite things to do is go to the local pond and watch for turtles. We love to see if we can spy them sunning on rocks and logs.
While you’re at it, a lot of these fun creatures can be found at creeks! My kids are definitely creek exploring kiddos!
Bird Studies
I think birds can be studied almost all year round, but they are super fun to observe in summer. We have barn swallows who build a nest on our porch and we are able to observe their life cycle at least twice through the summer. It’s also fun to watch for hummingbirds and any other local birds in your area.
Sky Studies
The sky is a pretty cool place to do some nature study! During the day you can identify the clouds, and also learn how to tell the approximate time based on the sun’s location. I also teach my kids directions by the rising and setting sun.
The summer night sky is a beautiful thing to observe if you can get away from light pollution. Do a moon study and see if you can find some constellations!
Gardens and Flowers
If you started a garden in the spring, you have a ton of nature study right at your fingertips all through the summer. My kids love to harvest our vegetables. They help us check them for pests and keep them watered. We are even working on saving seeds for next year!
It’s also a great time to identify wildflowers and those common weeds you probably have cropping up all over your yard.
