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10 Nature Study Titles in the Public Domain

  • Writer: Christina Clontz
    Christina Clontz
  • 5 days ago
  • 4 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Are you looking for books for Nature Study while staying on-budget? Look no further, I've got a list for you today!


  1. Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock


Handbook of Nature Study is like the Bible of Nature Studies. You can use it as a stand-alone study, or you can use the index purely as a Field Guide for ALL your nature study adventures!


Download the free PDF here.


Or buy the physical book to take with you on those nature hikes here.


  1. Our Wonderful World by Emery Lewis Howe


Over at DIY Homeschooler, they have a whole series available with tons of activities surrounding this vintage nature study book, from dissecting worms to dissecting owl pellets! Not only do you get the 32 week guide, but you get an oodle of activity ideas from the DIY website.


Get the FREE PDF here.


Or buy the physical book for this coming fall right here.


  1. The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess


Introduce your children to the mammals of North America through the adventures of Peter Rabbit, who learns about his furry neighbors at the "Old Briar-Patch school."


Each chapter uses a story format to blend entertaining narratives with accurate facts about animal habitats, diets, and physical traits.



Read it for FREE online here.


Go on and get a physical copy here!


  1. The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess


Peter Rabbit is at it again - this time exploring the avian world as he interviews dozens of local birds. The stories teach children how to identify different bird species by their unique songs, nesting habits, coloration, and seasonal migration patterns




  1. The Burgess Flower Book for Children by Thornton Burgess


Follow Peter Rabbit through the changing seasons as he discovers various wildflowers blooming in the Green Meadows and the Green Forest.


The narrative subtly weaves in botany lessons, detailing flower structures, blooming timelines, and how different plants adapt to their environments.




  1. Citizen Bird by Wright & Coues


This classic book follows a group of children learning about the lives and economic importance of birds from a knowledgeable uncle. It promotes wildlife conservation by teaching readers how birds act as essential "citizens" that protect crops and maintain ecological balance.


Read it for free online here.




These two companion volumes feature the deeply detailed, poetic observations of a pioneering French entomologist who studied insects in their natural habitats.


Fabre combines rigorous scientific observation with a philosophical writing style, transforming the daily survival, hunting instincts, and life cycles of flies and spiders into fascinating dramas.


The Life of the Fly can be found for FREE online reading here.

You can find The Life of the Spider for FREE online reading here.


You can find physical copies of Life of the Fly and Life of the Spider by clicking on the book names right in this sentence.


  1. The First Book of Plants by Alice Dickinson


This straightforward introductory science book explains the fundamental mechanics of the plant kingdom for younger readers. It uses clear language to explore how plants grow, manufacture food through photosynthesis, reproduce via seeds or spores, and adapt to extreme climates



Or buy a physical copy to take with you on the go!


  1. The Nature Study Idea by Liberty Bailey


Written by a leader of the early 20th-century nature-study movement, this book serves as an educational manifesto urging teachers to move science out of textbook lectures and into the fresh air. Bailey argues that observing nature directly fosters a child's natural curiosity, empathy, and practical understanding of agriculture.



Get yourself a physical copy over here!


  1. Nature Study & Life by C. F. Hodge


    This comprehensive manual provides educators with a practical framework for integrating nature study into the daily lives of children. Hodge focuses heavily on hands-on interactions, such as taming wild birds, caring for household plants, and studying beneficial insects to cultivate a protective love for the environment.


    Get the FREE PDF here.


    Check out the physical copy over at Amazon.


  1. Nature Study & Gardening for Rural Schools by George Carver Washington


This practical instructional pamphlet was created to empower teachers and children in rural communities to improve their economic conditions through agriculture.


Carver outlines simple, accessible lessons on soil health, composting, crop rotation, and school gardening to make scientific farming relevant to daily life.



You can find a physical copy of it through the Amazon link here.



This famous collection of short stories portrays the lives of real wild animals, such as Lobo the Wolf and Raggylug the Rabbit, with realistic individuality and dignity.

Rather than anthropomorphizing them, Seton highlights their genuine intelligence and survival struggles, famously presenting them as tragic heroes of the wilderness.



You can get the physical copy over here.



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Soon, we will be launching a whole curriculum of living books I know you and your family are going to love! You don't want to miss it!


With Love,


Christy <3



 
 
 

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