50+ Summer Nature Study Themes

Most of our school year is buried deep under a blanket of snow. We spend our time in doors looking longingly out the window. While we continue to do science during that time, our study of GOD-made themes is limited to what can survive freezing temperatures. 

But, that's OK. 

Who ever said learning has to be boxed up with all the workbooks and curriculum guides at the end of May?

I'm a firm believer in "summer gentle school". This means that we are able to learn about nature more naturally...more organically. We learn it simply...with observation and exploration. Towards the end of each spring, we sit down for a big brainstorming session. I ask lots of questions and I listen with earnest in hopes of guiding my children towards a summertime science interest.

By the end of our family Q&A, we take a vote to decide on one group nature-themed project that we will learn about TOGETHER throughout the entire summer. This allows all of my children to have a voice in their own education and helps them explore new topics of study that they might not otherwise have chosen.

This year, the kids have decided to spend the next three months studying horses. Like in year's past, our learning will be done gently by reading lots of living literature books, maybe completing a few projects and notebooking entries, but mostly by observing and discussing horses TOGETHER. 

I don't do a lot of planning for these summer studies and we don't intentionally set aside time each day to accomplish anything in particular. We just keep our eyes open. We explore. We take our longing-to-learn with us wherever we go. Inevitably, we stumble upon lots of real life examples of what we'd only be able to observe in books during the winter months. 

Interested in joining us for some summer-long NATURAL learning of nature? Here are fifty nature study themes that my kids and I have considered over the years.

Summer Nature Study Themes

1. animal habitats
2. animal tracks
3. animal scat
4. ants
5. baby animals
6. birds
7. cactus
8. caves
9. cloud formations
10. crustaceans 
11. eggs/nests
12. erosion
13. fish
14. forest life
15. geology/rocks
16. insects
17. land formations
18. leaves
19. life cycle of a frog/toad
20. life cycle of a butterfly
21. lizards
22. deciduous trees
23. evergreen trees
24. mammals/zoo study
25. marine life
26. moss/fungus
27. moths
28. mushrooms
29. oceans/waves
30. one square foot of any spot of earth and how it changes over time
31. phases of the moon
32. pond life
33. prairie life
34. rivers
35. rodents
36. seasons
37. seed harvesting and preserving
38. seashore life
39. shells
40. snails
41. snakes
42. soil sampling
43. spiders
44. turtles
45. underground habitats
46. vegetable/fruit gardening
47. weather
48. weeds
49. wild flowers
50. worms/worm gardens

Gentle Projects for Summer Nature Study

While you are observing and exploring, you will no doubt want to display or curate your specimens.

Here are a few ideas to easily capture nature in a natural way...

Egg Carton Nature Collection

Nature Box

Paper Bag Nature Journal
Nature Collage Sun Catcher
Habitat or Terrarium 

For more thoughts on summer nature study, be sure to visit my Nature Study Pinterest Board