Nature Smarts Workbook, Ages 7–9: Learn about Wildlife, Geology, Earth Science, Habitats & More with Nature-Themed Puzzles, Games, Quizzes & Outdoor Science Experiments

by The Environmental Educators of Mass Audubon

It’s fun to be nature smart! Nature Smarts Workbook, Ages 7-9 is packed with interactive learning activities that build knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. Based on the curriculum from the acclaimed outdoor educators at Mass Audubon, the colorful activity pages feature games, puzzles, mazes, and both on-the-page and outdoor activities that teach kids about geology, earth science, wildlife habits, basic botany, and more, along with important concepts such as pattern recognition and classification systems. From understanding how rocks transform to becoming a cloud detective, distinguishing between vertebrates and invertebrates, and identifying types of bird beaks and plant parts, this book expands on the school STEM curriculum to foster growth of the next generation of naturalists and conservationists.
 

Genres: Nature

96 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty basic and quickly consumed, but it's a good very general intro to very basic science topics. This workbook is colorful and focuses a little bit on a number of nature-related science topics like geology, the weather cycle, geography and astronomy. It's pretty simple and does not teach a whole lot. For instance, in the geology section I appreciated that it discussed the way different types of rocks were formed but then there's an activity where you fill in the squares with rocks you find that are shiny, red, etc. That seemed like a wasted opportunity where kids could instead look for types of rocks (sedimentary, etc.) or get even more specific with common rocks like quartz. There are apparently stickers (I read a digital ARC so I'm not sure) that you can stick in the blanks to say if something is a river or island and that sort of thing. Most of the activities would be very quick to do and then the workbook is basically "consumed" and not much use any more. There are a few things that take a bit longer like a few spaces to record the weather multiple days, but still not in depth. In many cases, there just isn't enough explanation. For instance, the section on clouds has illustrations of five basic cloud types and then kids are supposed to record about a week's worth of clouds, but it doesn't actually tell them what the difference is between the cloud types with text and kids aren't necessarily going to be able to tell what they are.

This is the sort of book I'd get for younger kids from a dollar store for a quick afternoon activity to keep them busy in the car or something, but it's not as in depth or long as I'd hope for.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

We received a digital copy of this workbook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


This is a fantastic nature-based workbook that features lots of Earth science, from rocks & weather to our solar system to habitats and life cycles and more!

There's plenty to learn and do in this fun and educational workbook that is perfect for homeschooling, supplementing, or just as a fun activity book for young nature lovers!
It is filled with brain-teasers, word searches, match-ups, quick quizzes, space to record findings, and more, as well as plenty of hands-on crafts and activities to do!

Nature Smarts Workbook for ages 7 - 9 covers much of the Earth science we have been learning about in First Grade so we got great use out of this and enjoyed the fun addition to our usual reading!

Many thanks to the publisher for sharing this with us!
This title releases in May of 2022!

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic introduction to nature and earth sciences for elementary students! Geology, meteorology, astronomy, botany, and more are all explored in accessible lessons that will definitely engage and educate! The pictures and examples are clear and attention-grabbing and cleverly distill complex topics into kid-friendly language.

The wealth of activities are varied and appealing. There are some sneaky math and language lessons, as well as lots of simple, hands-on activities like making fossils or model feathers. All modes of learning are catered to and I'm sure the included stickers will be a huge hit!

This would be an awesome gift for a budding scientist and would make a great enrichment activity for a school break or possibly a family trip. The activities could easily be adapted for classroom use as well.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Nature Smarts Workbook 2; Ages 7–9 is an engagingly colorful and accessible field guide/workbook for outdoor learning activities for kids presented by Mass Audubon. Due out 10th May 2022 from Storey, it's 96 pages and will be available in paperback format.

Throughout the book the vocabulary words which might be unfamiliar to readers are written in the text and defined immediately negating the necessity of accessing other books or the internet. I liked that the emphasis is on learning, appreciating, and guarding our natural world and showing the interconnections between living creatures (including us). I also liked that the puzzles and activities are really fun. I also liked that the creative team made the effort to include a diverse group of kids in the tutorial illustrations (STEAM projects are for -everyone- and representation is important).

This is a workbook, and it's arranged in activity pages. The activities are grouped thematically: geology, earth science, habitats, animal classifications, and botany. The quizzes and puzzles scattered throughout have an answer key at the back of the book, along with some sticker pages.

Activities are age appropriate and the language and concepts throughout will challenge, but not frustrate, most kids in the age range (7-9+ years).

I've been banging on for years on my blog (and real life) about STEAM subjects and how vital they are for our future. This book would make a great choice for a classroom library, gift for a young naturalist, library activity project, home library, homeschooling unit or similar use.

Five stars, there's a lot to like here.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nature Smarts Workbook, Ages 7-9 by Massachusetts Audubon Society is a stunning educational workbook that is fun, interesting, and was truly a learning experience for my child.

I highly recommend this educational workbook. My 6 year old son has always been interested in biology, animals, archeology, and geology. But his passion…are of the feathered sort…birds!

We are members of the national Audubon Society and visit the Grange Center in Columbus, Ohio often. Any time we can weave together a learning experience with something he is passionate about…I am all for.

This workbook has it all: educational narratives, facts, and snippets…activities with paper/pencil and hands-on activities as well.

It was a wonderful few days flying through this gem. I had to hold him back from finishing it all at a faster pace.

I highly recommend this series and hope there will be more to come!!!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Storey Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

[Viragos Reading Odyssey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nature Smarts Workbook, Ages 7–9
Learn about Wildlife, Geology, Earth Science, Habitats & More with Nature-Themed Puzzles, Games, Quizzes & Outdoor Science Experiments
by Massachusetts Audubon Society

I received an arc of this activity book from NetGalley and Storey Publishing LLC in exchange for an honest review. I read through the book with my 8 year old who is a big fan of all things science.

This is a great activity book focusing on the natural sciences. There is a wide variety of topics and they are spaced in a clear way that makes sense. As a parent I appreciated that it includes not only interactive pencil and paper tasks but also real world activities that one can follow along with. We enjoyed the graphics, as a big kid my son appreciated that they were not overly bright but a more mature less primary color palate. I did note a couple typographical errors but this is an uncorrected copy.

This is an excellent way to keep learning in the car, on the go on vacation or while stuck at home. 5/5 Would buy.

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to start by saying how big of a fan I am of Storey Publishing Company!

This was an excellent example of how kid's workbooks should be. Fun, exceptionally illustrated, and easy to digest.
There's a lot of educational material, but I do hope that this will come with a teacher's guide.
The only reason for 4 stars and not 5 is because when you first open the book, it wants you to label several things, but doesn't explain or teach about those things first. It wants to know what a plateau, valley, river are, etc, without any brief explanation. The rest of the book has the information first, then the filling in of blanks.
If the child doesn't know what those things are, they may struggle right off the bat.
As a homeschooling parent, there's nothing worse than a child being frustrated because they don't understand something.
Other than that, I admire the rich illustrations, exciting experiments, and information about nature, appropriately directed towards kids, and not parents or teachers.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps in having to be universal (it's little use selling a book featuring Kodiak bears to Australians or Brits, and vice versa) this does spend a fair bit of time escaping the 'nature' remit. After some good pages of geology, we hit on fossils, then end up labelling the planets and looking at star constellations. Still, this wide gamut of topics, and the well-pitched exercises (labelling this; choosing correct stickers for that – a great way to make this a use-once volume, grr; and all with little harder than a word search) both make for a decent educational/revision tool. Skills include analysing a bar graph, understanding a simple map's key, some simple maths sums, and some actual field observation, in cataloguing our rocks and spotting clouds. And by the end there certainly is enough concerning animals and wildlife conservation to make this very much on point.

[BethFishReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific workbook to encourage youngsters to have a better understanding of the natural world. The book can be used by homeschoolers or for fun family activities.

Each section (rocks, natural habitats, plants, etc.) consists of well-illustrated and clearly presented facts, quizzes and games, indoor and outdoor activities, and advice for becoming "a nature hero." The book ends with an answer key.

Note that the workbook can be used by kids in the city as well as the country. The outdoor activities can be conducted in a city park as easily as in a suburban or rural backyard. The crafty activities are affordable and call for common household items, making the projects accessible to families with few resources to spare.

Highly recommended for nature-loving kids and for kids who may need a push to enjoy the outdoors.

Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Develop a curiosity for looking for evidence in a surrounding world. Nature Smart Wordbook is a very informative workbook, full of simple illustrations and exciting and engaging activities. Texts are written and addressed for children who can begin this adventure by themselves.
Quiet wide range of presented material: from exploring geology and stones, visiting Solar System and labelling planets, to the wildlife topics related with habitats and animals. Good updating knowledge tool, developing many skills - from maths examples, observation and understanding maps, analysing presented data, to finally carry out a science experiment.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and engaging activity book for the targeted age group. I like that all the games and activities are based around the themes of nature. There are a wide range of activities and a nice depth of learning experience is provided in a fun way. I think this would work well for an education environment but also for interest-based learning. Kids who are already nature-minded might enjoy having a workbook like this to write in and dive in to. Topics provided span a nice range: meteorology, wildlife, geology, stargazing, habitats, and more.

**Note: I was provided a review copy of this book via Storey Publishing. Opinions are my own.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book includes a range of content and activities for approx. the 2nd-3rd grade range. Sections include rocks and geology, life cycles and habitats, and planet Earth. While some pages look like traditional workbook pages with fill-in-the-answer type formats, they are beautifully illustrated with diagrams and images and contain rich text. Other pages include activities and experiments (like making a wind vane or building a bird wing) and encourage kids to do hands-on projects. This would be a great book to use for weekend activities or for homeschooling kids!

[Jennyfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little workbook full of information about nature, Aimed at kids age 7-9, there are puzzles, math tasks, investigation activities, outdoor tasks and so on to keep the kids learning.

It is very USA-centric, and therefore some of the information may not be relevent for other countries - or continents. There is some more generalised information in here, as well, though, and it'd make a good resource for those homeschooling or remote learning.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

[Gijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nature smart is a good workbook, helps children understand our planet and how different elements of our nature work together. The workbook is organized, starting with the rock formation. How different types of rocks are formed and get their shape and features.

The animal kingdom section takes the reader to another level. Identifying tracks of different animals really helps children to closely observe nature. This workbook helps its readers to appreciate nature and preserve it for the future.

The colorful illustrations complement the content.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book and will buy it! The illustrations are lovely, the information provided is interesting, relevant, and age appropriate. Most importantly the work is something my kids will WANT to do. A workbook that teaches without tears! From how to make your own fossils to measuring precipitation, there is a bit of everything and I have a feeling I will have a lot of fun doing it along with them. Love, love, LOVE this workbook!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One fascinating book about nature for kids. Here explained from the stones, animals, and plants, with colorful worksheets that might entice kids to explore more about nature. With so many facts from dinosaurs to leafs, the book was read carefully to avoid missing precious information regarding how nature works.

[Wendy O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and engaging way to learn about nature: I confess I learned a few things too! I appreciate the range of activities, from puzzle-type activities to more craft-like projects, and especially the suggestions for taking learning outdoors. The workbook covers many nature-based themes to spark curiosity about various topics.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for a supplement or even a summer refresher for kids. The pictures are super cute and the terminology is easy to understand. This would also make a great morning basket book for kids who are homeschooled.

[Captivated Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This activity book was absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are colorful and lively. Kids will enjoy the fun Thames and activities located with the pages!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat workbook to introduce children ages 7-9 to science topics with simple activities for them to do to aid in learning.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Loved the science and it was a hit with my kids. Very informative and I loved the information provided.

[Sunnysmiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning about nature and the environment through the guidance of workbooks to encourage this knowledge.