Nature Tales
Ranked #1,796 in Education, #43,654 overall
Reading Nature Through Books
Of course, the best way to learn about nature is through first hand experiences. Nothing can substitute for a nature walk. But a living book with nature themes makes for a great read when you're not out exploring the woods or the beach. Fortunately for us, many of the books Charlotte Mason recommended are available for free in the public domain. Read on for more details of great nature tales.
Four Main Types of Nature Books
Science should never be boring! If you are a homeschooler, consider replacing your dull science textbooks with "real" books -- living books.
Both fiction and non-fiction books can be valuable for teaching science in an engaging and memorable way.
Simply Charlotte Mason has an excellent article about the value of adding science books to your nature study.
Types of books
- 1novels in natural settings
- 2nature readers
- 3biogoraphies of famous naturalists
- 4non-fiction picture books
Books Recommended by Charlotte Mason
FREE online
Charlotte Mason recommended these naturalists' books excellent for reading aloud to children. As she says, they are "all pleasant reading, many of them written by scientific men, and yet requiring little or no scientific knowledge for the enjoyment."
Fortunately many of them have entered the public domain and can be found online for free. Follow the links below.
- Fairyland of Science
- by Arabella Buckley, 1879. Topics include sunbeams, the ocean, water, ice, a rose, coal, bees. This book is also free in Kindle format.
- Librivox's Fairyland of Science
- Free audio recordings of this classic text!
- Madam How and Lady Why
- Charles Kingsley, 1891. This is mainly a book about geology --earthquakes, volcanos, coral reefs, soil, etc.
- Wild Animals I Have Known
- Ernest Thompson Seton, 1898.
Tales of eight wild animals -- crow, fox, dog, mustang, etc. - Works by William J. Long
- The Baldwin Project has online texts for four volumes of Long's Animal Nature Stories:
School of the Woods
Ways of Wood Folk
Secrets of the Woods
A Little Brother to the Bear. - Water Babies
- Charles Kingsley, 1863.
A novel about a boy who lives underwater and learns about sea creatures. - LibriVox's The Water-Babies
- LibriVox is an amazing site that offers free MP3 recordings of many works in the Public Domain. The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley is now available!
More Public Domain Books Online
These old books are all in the public domain and therefore are available free!
- Nature/Naturalists
- Many environmental books from the early 1900's are published here in digital format. Some titles: Birds Every Child Should Know, Squirrels and Other Fur-Bearers, Romance of the Beaver, Reading the Weather.
- Parables from Nature
- Written by Margaret Gatty between 1855 and 1871 in four series. This collection includes some of the original illustrations. These stories teach about both nature and God's truth.
- The Burgess Bird Book for Children
- Nature stories are the vehicle for teaching about the many different types of birds.
Be sure to check out the great resources available to supplement this book at That Resource Site. There are printable flashcards (or character cards) of the birds featured in this living book. - LibriVox's Burgess Bird Book
- A free audio recording of Thornton Burgess's classic Bird Book for Children.
For a bird coloring book to accompany this, use the from free coloring book Cornell.
And don't miss That Resource Site that has loads of supplements for this book. - LibriVox's The Burgess Animal Book for Children
- These are free MP3 files to dowload. Listen to the story read outloud. Peter Rabbit goes to school with Mother Nature as his teacher. In this zoology book for children, Thornton W. Burgess describes the mammals of North America in the form of an entertaining story. For full color photos of all the animals mentioned, visit this Shutterfly Photoset.
- Animal Nature Stories
- Six books written by Clara Dillingham Pierson between 1898 and 1901: Among the Forest People, Among the Farm-Yard People, Among the Meadow People, Among the Pond People, Among the Night People, Dooryard Stories.
- Librivox's Birds of the Air by Arabella Buckley
- Arabella Buckley had a great love of nature and wished to impart that love to children. Birds of the Air will encourage children to observe birds in their natural environment.
- Librivox's By Pond and River by Arabella B. Buckley
- Explore the pond and river habitats through this classic book in the public domain. Download free MP3 audio files!
Living in the Woods Fiction
For many of us, thoughts of "nature" evoke images of the forest. These books all deal with people living in or trying to save the forest.
Chapter Books -- Wildlife Turned Pet
for grades 3-5
An owl, a raccoon, a capybara, and a panda... all unlikely pets. But in these novels, wild animals do become pets. Through the fiction, children learn about wildlife.
Modern Nature Readers
These books were not in print in Miss Mason's time, but they certainly fit the spirit of the nature tales she recommened. The book number represents grade level. Read a review of these books, written by a homeschool mom, at Curriculum Choice.
Books you Can Read Free Online at Google Books
- Go Outside! Over 130 Activities for Outdoor Adventures
- Lots of great outdoor play ideas for kids not accustomed to playing out of doors.
Picture Books for the Younger Ones
When choosing picture books for your younger children, pay attention not just to the attractive illustrations but also the scientific concepts being presented. Even very young children can understand the processes of nature when they are broken down step by step in clear language. These titles (and others in their series) are all well respected among educators.
Non-fiction Nature Books
Activity Books About Nature
These are not just sit and read books. These are read and DO books. The activities will motivate your child to get outside and explore!
Other Nature Helps
Guestbook
I welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions.
-
-
TransplantedSoul
May 25, 2012 @ 11:56 pm | delete
- If you put nature into a childs heart, their goodness will shine through.
-
-
-
GardenGreenAngel.com
Jan 27, 2012 @ 8:51 am | delete
- Amazing resource. After hearing about your work at a Green Teacher Webinar, I couldn't wait to tap into resources for Nature Journaling. LIttle did I know there would be so much more on your site. Thank you! How beautiful and encouraging.
GardenGreenAngels.com
-
-
-
HarmonyArtMom
Sep 30, 2011 @ 8:53 am | delete
- What a great resource to have all these ideas and books and links in one place! Thanks Jimmie.
-
-
-
Timewarp
Aug 12, 2011 @ 1:39 am | delete
- Blessed this well thought out lens. :)
-
-
-
Melissa
Feb 24, 2011 @ 1:00 pm | delete
- LOVE this lens, Jimmie! We've enjoyed some of these and are looking forward to many others!
-
- Load More
by Jimmie
I'm a homeschooling mom who loves to teach and learn. I use many of
Charlotte Mason's methods in homeschooling my daughter. But I'm
striving to implem...
more »
- 153 featured lenses
- Winner of 20 trophies!
- Top lens » Making a Shoebox Diorama
Explore related pages
- Nature Study -- Charlotte Mason Style Nature Study -- Charlotte Mason Style
- Artist Study -- Charlotte Mason Style Artist Study -- Charlotte Mason Style
- Charlotte Mason Basics Charlotte Mason Basics
- Nature Study at the River Nature Study at the River
- Nature Study at the Beach Nature Study at the Beach
- Charlotte Mason Quotes About Nature Charlotte Mason Quotes About Nature
Other Nature Lenses
Parables From Nature
Utilizing the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Method
Parables From Nature Utilizing the Charlotte Mason Homeschooling Method
Amazon Price: $8.04 (as of 06/03/2012)
I Love Dirt
I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 06/03/2012)
52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature
