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The Handbook of Nature Study
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'A matchless handbook for decades, this classic has been the natural history bible of countless teachers and others who seek information about their natural environment. Written originally for those elementary school teachers who knew little of common plants and animals, and even less about earth beneath their feet and the skies overhead, this book is for the most part as
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Paperback, 912 pages
Published
July 3rd 1986
by Cornell University Press
(first published 1911)
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Currently reading this with my kids who LOVE nature and we are all going to start our own field guide books to keep track of what we have learned & seen :)
One of the best resources available for parents and homeschoolers, and primary teachers who are looking for useful, practical ideas in teaching about plants, animals, earth, and sky.
10 star worthy..
I adore this book. I haven't finished reading it yet because it is the kind of book that is best read in little snippets, but I can't say enough good about what I have read so far. The book is a compilation of essays/lessons written by a female professor at Cornell back I the early 1900s. I love the old fashioned language and the author's unrestrained love for the natural world which spills over into everything she writes. Sometimes she is really funny even though she is not trying to be because
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This book has already been a valuable resource, even in our beginning nature study. I look forward to using it more as we discover more!
Another wonderful book gifted to me by a wonderful sister. This is an extensive nature guide for the layman. I believe it was originally published in 1939 and Cornell University had something to do with it. Her writing on nature is witty and informative; I seem to recall a particularly funny description of a badger. The book is broken up by animal, and includes questions for review for those using it as a study guide or textbook.
A timeless classic that has been the preferred reference material for many decades among those seeking to delve into nature study. Originally written in 1911, Anna Botsford Comstock sought to inform other educators on how to incorporate nature study into their classrooms and cultivate a desire in their students to observe the natural world around them. Despite its age, The Handbook of Nature Study continues to be a source of relevant information on both the living and non-living specimens that t
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I was impressed that my library had a 1960's edition of this century old book. I haven't read every single page, and I know that some of the scientific information is out of date, but this book is an absolute gem. Before reading, I didn't realize that it is geared towards school teachers. I am not a teacher, but as a parent who likes to take my kids outdoors I find this to be a great resource. I am so impressed by the author. What an undertaking! The writing is beautiful. And her philosophy for
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This book has such wonderful lessons. I still to this day pull this from my shelves and research so many different things. This is one that all families with any interest in nature and the study of nature should add to their shelves. This is even a book that I think those who aren't really interested in studying nature should consider reading. It may just make you want to get out there and take a hike. There were even some lessons that would bring a smile as you read them (i.e. the one about the
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This book is overlong and has only black and white pictures, some of which are too small to see the details. So much for the negatives. This book fans a spark of curiosity about nature and asks many questions designed to enhance our observation skills so that we see more of what we have been seeing all along. The author deliberately chooses plants and animals we are likely to see and adds a whimsical note to it all by quoting from literature, creating her own stories, or recalling childhood game
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While I've only read the first part, and browsed the remainder, this excellent book serves as a teaching guide for nature study with basic information and questions regarding animals, insects, plants, etc. found commonly in North America. If you enjoy being outside and want to learn more about what you find in Nature, you can learn a lot from this book.
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Essential Charlotte-Mason style companion, although I must push back against her constant fear of "teaching too much" and the specific (and exceedingly constrictive) restraints she specifies. To each (parent and child) their own, lady!
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We use this book as a reference and read parts of it when we study a certain item. Not a book you would read cover to cover. Good information but just a bit much that the kids don't even turn to it. I use it to read aloud when doing a nature study on a particular item...krb 9/26/19
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This is a very detailed complete book of nature, great resource!
I think we’ll be using this as more of a reference after our walks to look up what is interesting vs reading before.
I use the Handbook of Nature Study as a reference for our homeschool Nature Study. The ideas contained in the introduction alone are worth the price of the book. It amazes me how valuable the nature information in this book is, even in this age of the internet. I think it's because the author loved nature. This is more than mere information. This is a living book with perspective, wisdom, and interesting detail.
I would like to see this book updated with better binding (hardcover would be nice) ...more
I would like to see this book updated with better binding (hardcover would be nice) ...more
Excellent handbook for studying nature with your children (or by yourself) - I guess the title is appropriate, eh?
It might be a little tedious to those who don't like to or won't read the introduction. The beginning includes lots of lofty philosophy about how to do nature study correctly - all of it excellent, but non-bookish people might balk at the old fashioned language and sheer volume of text to wade through. It is worth the read. Apply the principles and you will have an award winning natu ...more
It might be a little tedious to those who don't like to or won't read the introduction. The beginning includes lots of lofty philosophy about how to do nature study correctly - all of it excellent, but non-bookish people might balk at the old fashioned language and sheer volume of text to wade through. It is worth the read. Apply the principles and you will have an award winning natu ...more
This is a great resource for nature study with children. It prepares the teacher to guide her students in developing obvservation skills via hands on exploration of nature. What I love about it is that the author doesn't come across as being didactic, but writes as someone who comes alongside the reader to share in the joy of discovery. The preface of the book, written directly to the teacher, is worth the price of the book. In it, she discusses the importance of nature study, not only for the b
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Definitely a great book. The way I read it is reading Part I to learn the concepts of teaching nature study and using the rest of the book as a reference. When kids are young, it is useless to feed them with knowledge. What is more important is to inspire their curiosity in learning the nature. I take my kid out for a walk and encourage discovery by herself, and reference back the parts of book that are related. I used a pretty old version, so pictures are black and white. I wish I could find a
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What an amazing collection of useful information. I picked it up in my travels it's old A. F. and heavy a very dense book.
When you open it up and start leafing through you understand why.
I can't remember another book that has so much information on so many topics as this bible for anyone who spends time in nature. Regardless if you are a farmer or homesteader a wildcrafter a keener or just a student of life outside the house, this will cover the bases.
If it's not in the covers of this book you ...more
When you open it up and start leafing through you understand why.
I can't remember another book that has so much information on so many topics as this bible for anyone who spends time in nature. Regardless if you are a farmer or homesteader a wildcrafter a keener or just a student of life outside the house, this will cover the bases.
If it's not in the covers of this book you ...more
This is a classic. This is my new favorite book for Biology. I need to get a copy of this. This book will now be our family's scholor book to teach biology.
This book is descriptive and answers all the questions we could ask about nature. This book is black and white and certainly not entertaining. I'm trying to remove the books out of my life that are entertaining and provide only "good or fair" reading material. This book will actually teach us about nature and biology. ...more
This book is descriptive and answers all the questions we could ask about nature. This book is black and white and certainly not entertaining. I'm trying to remove the books out of my life that are entertaining and provide only "good or fair" reading material. This book will actually teach us about nature and biology. ...more
Unlikely that this is the book I'm looking for but at least it's old enough to have been on the family bookshelves in the 1950's. I found my first nature book there and found it to be reasonably kid friendly. The book I'm referring to was not 7-900 pages and was hardbound and bigger than an encylopedia volume and may have been only about animals. I don't remember. Very engrossing... Date read is approximate.
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While I didn't exactly read it cover to cover yet, it's just one of those books you know that while it would take years to "finish", it will be used and used often. The introduction on how to teach nature study is phenomenal and necessary as the entire book is a necessity for every parent who wants their child to have a great relationship with nature.
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Apr 01, 2008
Sally
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Shelves:
homeschool,
science-nature
I'm starting the Green Hour Challenget and she directs folks to view or download the book here
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I just got this book before school started. I had heard and read so much about it, I had to have it. I'm glad I own it now. What an invaluable reference for our nature studies. I have caught myself going back to it again and again long after a lesson is over just to read some more.
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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. It is our go-to book for everything nature. We have a physical copy as well as the e-book (for taking out side on hikes). We will use this for many years to come. A great investment!
Recommended for science by AmblesideOnline.com
Great resource for nature study but it would be so much better with color photos.
We use this for school. It is full of great information for science and nature study. This is really a reference book. Recently, we have learned about wasps, spiders, and other invertebrates.
love this book. a valuable resource for learning about the world around you--and then passing it on to your children, with lots of ideas on how to go about it.
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Anna Botsford Comstock (1854-1930) was an acclaimed author, illustrator, and educator of natural studies. The first female professor at Cornell University, her over 900-page work, The Handbook of Nature Study (1911), is now in its 24th edition. Comstock was an American artist and wood engraver known for illustrating entomological text books with her her husband, John Henry Comstock including their
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“Nature-study cultivates in the child a love of the beautiful . . . a perception of color, form and music . . But more than all, nature-study gives the child a sense of companionship with life out-of-doors and an abiding love of nature.”
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“The child should never be required to learn the name of anything in the nature-study work; but the name should be used so often and so naturally in his presence, that he will learn it without being conscious of the process”
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