The No Sweat Nature Study Podcast

A garden pest is any insect, animal, or other organism that can cause damage to plants and gardens. They can be harmful to both ornamental plants and crops, and can negatively impact the health and productivity of the garden. Common garden pests include insects like aphids, caterpillars, and beetles, as well as animals like rodents, deer, and rabbits. Some pests are attracted to certain plants, wh...

Did you know there are over 20,000 different species of bees in the world? Believe it or not, bees are insects that belong to the same family as ants and wasps. They play an important role in pollinating plants, which helps fruits, vegetables, and flowers to grow. Learn more about pollination as we discuss honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees with Mrs. Cindy! To get the FREE Nature Walk Chall...

In today's episode, we're exploring stinky things in nature! We often use our eyes to see things and our hands to touch things. We might even use our ears to listen. But have you ever thought about going on a nature walk with your nose? Concentrating on fragrant and malodorous things during a smelly nature study can be lots of fun!  To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge, visit the show notes page...

Learning about strawberries is a fabulous way to explore botany – a special branch of biology all about plants. When we learn about plants in nature study, we discover that the fruit is the part of the plant that contains the seeds. Plants are classified into different groups based on the characteristics of their seeds. Learning about the seeds of strawberry plants and how they reproduce is pretty...

It's spring and that means you'll be seeing a lot more thunderstorms! Thunder is an amazing sound and lightning can be a beautiful sight, but it can be scary when a strong storm rolls in. Not to mention, some thunderstorms can be severe weather events. In this episode, you'll hear a funny story about Mrs. Cindy and her fear of thunderstorms as a kid, and you'll also and learn a fascinating weather...

Cindy West from No Sweat Nature Study LIVE and Richard Fink from The Vocal Gym by Throga have an interesting discussion about the science of vocals through the lens of nature study. Learn how sound is made and how animals use sound for communication. Nature study is an amazing tool for teaching hands-on, experiential science. Nature study IS science and even connects to the physics of sound in thi...

Salamanders are beautiful, elusive amphibians, which means they can be hard to find on nature walks. When you do find one, it can slip away quickly giving you only a glimpse of the unique colors that make up its smooth, sometimes colorful skin. Listen to learn more about salamanders! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge for this episode, visit the show notes page at   https://ourjourneywestward....

Vernal Pools nature study isn't just about one type of plant or animal. Instead, vernal pools are complete habitats, home to many fascinating creatures including amphibians and macroinvertebrates! Have you ever heard the term "vernal pool"? I bet you know the word "pool" but do you know what "vernal" means? I can't wait to tell you all about it! To get your FREE Nature Walk Challenge, visit the sh...

Rock nature study might seem boring, but it can be fascinating if you know a little something about rocks. In this episode, you'll learn about sandstone, a sedimentary rock that is easily sculpted by wind and water to form stunning landscapes around the world! Supplies for the nature study challenge: nature journal or blank, white paper colored pencils clear tape For show notes and episode downloa...

I recently chatted with Sarah Mackenzie of Read Aloud Revival about using picture books alongside nature study to enhance learning. It was such a fun, casual conversation that I thought you might like to hear it too! Nature study is an amazing tool for teaching hands-on, experiential science. While nature study IS science, it easily connects to so much more across the curriculum. Reading picture b...

Are there wild cats roaming around where you live? We have seen bobcats on our farm and some neighbors once saw a mountain lion. These sneaky creatures don't necessarily like to be seen by humans, though, as they wander through various habitats in North America looking for food, water, mates, and places to take shelter. In the episode, learn which big and small wild cats live in North America. Hav...

Winter is the perfect time to observe planets in the night sky. You can easily see Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn at different times in the early evening without the help of a telescope. Plus, because it gets dark so early, nobody has to stay up late! In the episode, learn tidbits of information about all the planets, not just the ones we can easily see, and enjoy a fun nighttime nature walk cha...

What's the difference between a wild dog and a domesticated dog? Both are in the family Canidae and there are plenty of similarities, but there are some important differences, too. We'll learn about those in this episode, as well as some other fun facts about wild dog packs and animal communication. Of course, you won't want to miss the nature walk challenge either! Supplies for the nature study c...

Who doesn't love the smell of spices wafting through the December air as cookies bake in the oven or pomanders decorate your home? In this special Christmas nature study episode, learn about the traditional spices of Christmas. Besides science, you'll enjoy a mini history lesson to explain why these particular spices became popular in winter recipes, and you'll even get to think a little about wor...

Snowflakes are intricate, delicate, and strikingly beautiful. In this winter nature study episode, learn about the states of matter and temperature as you discover a little about how snowflakes are made. Whether it's snowy where you live or not, you'll be able to enjoy either a nature walk or nature table time to observe some stunning snowflake structures, too. Supplies for the nature study challe...

Do you love root vegetables? Whether your answer is yes or no, they are really interesting! You'll learn about different types of root veggies and how to categorize them in this podcast episode with Mrs. Cindy West.  Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils For show notes and episode downloads, go to  ourjourneywestward.com/root-vegetable-nature...

People either love mice or loathe them. No matter how you feel about them, mice are fascinating to learn about. That's exactly what we'll do in this homeschool nature study! Learn about common mouse habitats and find out whether mice are predators or prey. You'll be in awe of their agility and intelligence as we also discuss some of their amazing defensive mechanisms! Supplies for the nature study...

Our world is full of several amazingly outrageous plants. We'll learn about a couple of them in this slightly spooky homeschool nature study! This episode focuses on the black bat flower and sandbox tree, two stunning exotic plants. You'll be encouraged to head outdoors to find some unique plants in your own area, too!  Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper...

The harvest moon is one of the big, beautiful full moons of the autumn season. Children will love learning how it got its name and why it looks the way it does in this homeschool nature study! Learn about the 29.5-day moon cycle and all of its waxing and waning phases. Of course, no moon study is complete without touching on the reflective light we see from the sun as the moon and earth make their...

Learning about nature through the eyes of naturalists, botanists, and other scientists is very cool. In this Gregor Mendel episode, take a look at botany through scientific eyes! Learn a brief biography of Gregor Mende and his pea plant experiments, as well as his ground-breaking studies of traits and heredity that opened the door to our modern-day understanding of genetics! Supplies for the natur...

Is every weed in a pond called pondweed or is pondweed something special? That's what you'll learn about in this interesting episode about plants that are found in a pond habitat. I think you'll love these aquatic angiosperms which are the perfect food and shelter for so many pond animals. Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils or watercolors...

We should all be aware of poisonous plants on nature walks. You don't necessarily need to be afraid of most of them, but you should know which plants are poisonous and how they can be hurtful. You'll learn a bunch about plant defense mechanisms during this interesting episode! Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils For show notes and episode d...

Wasp nature study isn't so scary when you're talking about mud daubers and their amazing nests built of mud. In this science lesson for kids, learn about the amazing mud dauber life cycle and preferred habitats. You find four options for this week's nature walk challenge and nature journaling, too!  Supplies for the nature study challenge: Nature journal or blank, white paper Colored pencils brown...

Slide on in for a slithery and sensational episode about water snakes. Bring along your nature journal with some colored pencils and choose from three different (and not-so-scary) nature walk challenges! For show notes and episode downloads, go to  ourjourneywestward.com/water-snake-nature-study/ . ←Find images of water snakes here, too! Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at  NoSweatNatureStudy.com ....

Look up into the night sky this summer season to enjoy a nighttime nature walk and nature journaling challenge! Bring along the app that Mrs. Cindy mentions in the podcast, some dark-colored construction paper, and white or yellow crayons, gel pens, or acrylic paints. Don't forget something hard like a clipboard to use as a surface for drawing or painting. For show notes and episode downloads, go...