The Charlotte Mason Garden

“Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.”

–        Charlotte Mason

by S. Westermann

Welcome to the garden.  I hope you brought your picnic blanket, nature notebook, and a few good field guides.  You never know what will scurry, scamper or fly through your garden.  Take a peak into our garden rooms and see how we put so much fresh air into our days.

Out of Doors All The Time

Charlotte Mason advocated many hours of out door time, particularly for children under the age of 9.  She was particular that we take our meals out of doors, with exception to a hot supper.  In our homeschool, we do our lessons on the patio whenever the weather cooperates.  To facilitate al fresco meals, you simply need invest in an old blanket and some unbreakable plates and cups.  (Who can argue with not having to clean the kitchen?  I can honestly say that my two year old managed to launch a pea and stick it to the ceiling above her seat during dinner this evening.  I am hoping that she could not do that again if she tried.)   Children, when out of doors should be as rowdy and rambunctious as children can be, playing all sorts of out door games and running about with reckless abandon.  Ms. Mason notes skipping rope as being a very important outdoor game, however the rope should be swinging behind the child instead of in front. Ms. Mason recommended that children be out of doors regardless of the weather, including stomping in mucky puddles in the rain. With proper dress and footwear, children can spend some time out of doors throughout the year. 

Making a Nature Notebook

Moms and kids alike can enjoy nature notebooking.  All one needs is a simple, unlined sketchpad, and a pencil.  As your artistic merit demands, you may choose to add watercolors, colored pencils, or whatever your desired media.  Simply draw what you see and caption the drawing with a title, the date, any other observations.  You may also include a relevant scripture verse or poem.  We have expanded our nature notebooks to include the scientific names, where available to us, and perhaps a rubbed leaf or pressed flower (clear contact paper is great for sticking these to your page).

Nature Notebooking for Very Little Ones

I have used nature notebooking as my exclusive curriculum for almost three year olds through just about five.  Instead of using a bound notebook, within which they are tempted to waste paper, I have provided three hole punched card stock for this purpose.  After the drawing was made, I would have the child describe the object to me (narration) and write it beside the drawing.  As the each child became able to write her own letters, I would write the name of the item and she would copy it onto the appropriate page (copywork).  Sometimes, we included a photo, like when the box turtle wandered through our yard.  While working we stored the pages in a binder.  Upon completion, I would thread twine loosely and tie in a bow to bind the book.

Check back often…more to come on planting veggies, gardening with children, and experiences in entomology!

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