Roots & Shoots: Summer Nature Study

Roots and Shoots: Summer is an eight week Charlotte Mason inspired nature study curriculum for families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Each week focuses on a single summer topic explored through science, poetry, art, music, nature journaling, hands-on crafts, and outdoor activities. It is designed to be simple, flexible, and rich.

The curriculum comes in two parts: a Teacher’s Guide and a 116-page Student Pages document.

The Teacher’s Guide includes a complete weekly schedule for each of the eight weeks, a curated book list prioritizing diversity in authorship and illustration, a full supplies list, a poetry section, an artist and composer study for every week, nature journal prompts, regional adaptability notes so the curriculum works for families across North America, and a note on how screen time and YouTube videos fit into a gentle Charlotte Mason approach.

The Student Pages include informational reading passages written for K-5, science activities and labeling worksheets, poetry pages with poet biographies, poetry copywork with a tracing font for younger learners, craft instructions, and recipes. They are all in one document so you are never hunting for instructions mid-lesson.

The eight weeks cover:

• Beaches and Oceans
• Sunflowers
• Fireflies
• Frogs
• Constellations
• Water Lilies
• Dragonflies
• Berries and Wild Edibles

Poetry includes public domain works by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Mary Howitt, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lottie Brown Allen, W.H. Davies, A.A. Milne, and an original poem written especially for this curriculum by children’s poet and Grammy Award nominated and affiliated author Eric Ode.

Artist studies include Hokusai, Vincent van Gogh, Jean-François Millet, Claude Monet, Mark Catesby, Maria Sibylla Merian, and Winslow Homer.

Composer pairings include Debussy, Johann Strauss II, Dai Fujikura, Haydn, Holst, Edward MacDowell, Prokofiev, and Dvořák, each chosen specifically for the week’s topic.

This is a digital download. You will receive two PDF files: the Teacher’s Guide and the Student Pages. Print as many copies as you need for your household.

 

FAQS

What ages is this for? Kindergarten through fifth grade. Activities and reading passages are designed to work across that range, with simpler options for younger children and extension challenges built in for older ones.

Do I need any special supplies? Most supplies are common household craft items. A full supplies list is included in the Teacher’s Guide so you can prepare before each week begins.

Is this a full curriculum or a supplement? It works as both. Many families use it as their primary summer learning and others use it alongside other materials. It is designed to be simple and flexible enough to fit either approach.

Is this aligned with any specific educational standards? It is Charlotte Mason-inspired rather than standards aligned. It prioritizes living ideas, direct experience with nature, great literature, and rich arts integration over only worksheet based learning.

Is this a digital or physical product? Digital only. You will receive two PDF files to download, save, and print at home. You may print as many copies as you need for your own household.