Learn how leaves use fuzz, chemicals, and even camouflage to stay safe from animals that might want to eat them. This episode is packed with surprising science and outdoor observation ideas!

In the companion Parts of a Leaf video class included in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, you’ll draw and label a detailed diagram of a leaf while learning what each part does—and why it’s so important. You may not even realize some of these parts exist, but you’re sure to be fascinated by them as you compare different kinds of leaves in your nature journal.

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the Parts of a Leaf show notes page to see the spines of a stinging nettle leaf!

Defense Mechanisms of Plants curriculum → ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/defense-mechanisms-plants/

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Why are bird eggs blue, brown, or speckled? In this episode, Mrs. Cindy shares surprising reasons behind bird egg colors and how they help protect baby birds. Get ready for fun and egg-ucational science!

In the companion Egg-Laying Animals Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, learn about the variety of egg-laying animals. I bet you'll be surprised at some of these critters and how their eggs are unique! In your nature journal, you'll create an egg-tastic chart!

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the Egg-Laying Animals show notes page to see a killdeer nest full of speckled eggs!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

What’s really at the end of a rainbow? Join Mrs. Cindy in this colorful episode as we explore the science and stories behind rainbows—and discover the truth about that legendary pot of gold!

In the companion Rainbow Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study LIVE membership, discover the incredible science of rainbows, their form, and the beautiful colors we see. Then, diagram the parts of a watercolor rainbow that you create.

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the Rainbow show notes page to see a double rainbow!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

You may have heard the phrase "crocodile tears", but what does it mean? In this episode, discover whether crocodiles shed real tears, and if so, why. 🐊 

In the companion Alligators & Crocodiles Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, you'll discover the similarities and differences between alligators and crocodiles, explore their habitats and behaviors, and create a nature journal comparison page about the differences between these fierce reptiles.

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the crocodile show notes page to see a crocodile's eye!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Have you heard the whistling wind? How about the howling, roaring, or humming wind? Learn how the wind creates these sounds through air movement during this episode. Plus, wow your friends with scientific words like turbulence and the Aeolian effect!

Explore earth science, geography, and weather in the video class about wind as we discover how wind forms, shapes weather patterns, and can be harnessed as a natural energy source!

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the wind show notes page.

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Discover how beloved author and illustrator Barbara Cooney infused her stories with the beauty of nature. In this episode, we explore her life, her inspirations, and the special connections between her books and nature study!

Join us for a special No Sweat Nature Study video class where we’ll explore Barbara Cooney’s breathtaking illustrations and uncover how she used nature to bring her stories to life. Students will compare her artwork across books and create nature journal pages inspired by her unique style!

Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy Gift Certificates for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/

Charter Schools can purchase LIVE or VIDEO-ONLY access to No Sweat Nature Study for you → ourjourneywestward.com/charter/

Visit the Barbara Cooney show notes page to see a lupine.

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Visit our show sponsor, The Learning Well Journal, to purchase the spring edition of an encouraging, beautiful, in-print magazine for homeschooling parents.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Did you know diamonds can be pink, blue, or even black? In this sparkling episode, kids will learn what gives diamonds their colors and the meaning behind fancy diamonds!

Explore earth science, chemistry, and math in the video class about diamonds as we discover how diamonds form, relate to the rock cycle, and shine with incredible strength!

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy gift cards for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift

Charter schools can purchase access to No Sweat Nature Study → ourjourneywestward.com/charter

Visit the diamond show notes page to see the Hope Diamond!

Leave a voice message for the podcast → ourjourneywestward.com/podcast

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Brace yourself for an earth-shaking journey as we explore the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. Discover fascinating facts about seismologists and the Richter scale, too!

Learn how and why earthquakes occur in the companion Earthquakes Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership. Be ready to create a nifty diagram of tectonic plates, fault lines, and seismic waves!

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy Gift Certificates for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/

Chart Schools can purchase access codes here → ourjourneywestward.com/charter/

Visit the earthquake show notes page to find Chile on a map of South America!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Discover the fascinating reasons behind the enormous size of bald eagle nests and learn how bald eagles build them. Also, enjoy exciting new features like The Science Snicker and a fun 3, 2, 1 Quiz to kick off the new year!

In the companion Bald Eagles Video Class included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, learn about the amazing characteristics and behaviors of these incredible birds of prey while creating a nature journal page!

Join No Sweat Nature Study at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

Buy Gift Certificates for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/

Charter Schools can purchase No Sweat Nature Study for you → ourjourneywestward.com/charter/

Visit the bald eagle show notes page to see a bald eagle nest!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Download the free Winter Play Dough Mats!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)

Discover the fascinating history and traditions of the Yule log, from its roots as a burning log for winter warmth to the sweet French bûche de Noël cake. Learn how this holiday custom connects to the winter solstice and nature's seasonal rhythms!

In the companion video class about The Shortest Day of the Year, included in the No Sweat Nature Study membership, discover how the tilt of the earth and its orbit affect the seasons, climate, and the length of light each day - all while creating a scientific nature journal page.

Join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE at NoSweatNatureStudy.com. Use the code NOSWEAT for 50% off your first month of a monthly membership.

BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES for friends and family to join No Sweat Nature Study LIVE →  ourjourneywestward.com/downloads/no-sweat-nature-study-live-gift/

Visit the Yule log show notes page to see a Yule log cake!

BONUS: Get a fun Christmas Glyph activity!

Share pictures of your nature studies on Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag @OurJourneyWestward so Mrs. Cindy will see them!

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review if you enjoy the episodes. Thank you! It helps the podcast so much! :)