When doing your nature studies....

[Pster]

....outside.... do you have to tell your dc to draw the things that they see?

We tried it for the first real time last evening and really enjoyed ourselves but my 6 yo and 4 yo were drawing polka dotted snakes and sea turtles! (we were watching the sunset over a lake) Should I let them be creative and just add this stuff? or....should I keep trying to get them to draw the things that we are looking at around us - be it a flower or a landscape or whatever?

I sat and was drawing things with them and we really had a good time! They didn't want to stop. My back hurt eventually from sitting on the ground so long!

Pretty much every time they have drawn up to this point has been imaginative & creative - never really just the drawing what is in front of you... so maybe it will just take time to look at things differently? I figure if I am modeling it it should help too.

:001_smile:

[MichelleWI]

My daughter who was eight last year when we were able to be out-of-doors (Winter, go away!) is very exacting but she still drew things into the picture that weren't there. Because of her personality, they were always real creatures or flora that *could* have been present. Her picture was simply incomplete without a nuthatch or wood violet, whether one was actually within sight or not.

I don't expect my younger children to draw precisely what they see. And yes, sometimes our boy (age 4) puts a fire truck in the middle of the state forest! We've been doing this long enough to watch them each mature in their own time, though, so I am unconcerned.

[Trivium Academy]

You're doing fine, I wouldn't lead just model. I drew a piece of bark and dd7 wanted to draw a rock b/c I was drawing the tree bark. At first she wanted to play at the playground at the State Park but when she saw me drawing, she wanted to draw too. When ds3 saw dd7 drawing, he wanted to draw as well. :)

[Chris in VA]

I think the idea is to draw what you see. You are training in observation skills, not imaginative skills.
That's one of the purposes of nature study.
However, just getting out in nature and enjoying oneself, and then drawing outside is also a great thing. It's art for the purpose of art, though, not nature study per se.
But what's wrong with that?

[pixelroper]

I have a few hs dc I do an informal drawing class with. Ages 8-6, we do drawing in baby steps, I keep it fun and require attention on only one skill or aspect/lesson. I use a still life to draw from. This allows them to learn something about observation, and trains their eye. This is what you have to do to get them thinking this way. At first I was reluctant to do this, I wasn't sure about how well the dc would respond- Moms have reported back that the dc have been more eager to draw what is asked of them since. I've been truely amazed at what some of them have accomplished.

IMO get a simple fun book on drawing. Something that just shows how objects or figures are made up of smaller shapes. Let them pick what they want to draw and embellish at will (that is the fun part). My dd started with princesses & mermaids- thats what she was interested in. When out on a nature study ask them to focus on at least one object to sketch for your lesson, then, if you have the time, let them do whatever they want. You may find that as it 'clicks' they'll be on a roll. My youngest student has filled her sketch book with all kinds of stuff. And of course keep sketching yourself. Usborne has decent ones, dc have liked the one I have.

examples here (http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1206029405-286562&subject=16&category=5214)

as they improve & if they are interested- look for more advanced 'how tos' to challenge them. Drawing is a very valuable skill and great fun. yahooooo!
its great that you have them doing this-