Winter Wednesday ('cept we're two weeks late!)

As a fun supplement to our nature study this term, we are joining Barb at Handbook of Nature Study and reading through a fantastic winter resource called, Discover Nature in Winter: Things to Know and Things to Do, by Elizabeth P. Lawlor.  

...although we seem to be two weeks and two days behind Barb, since we started our term later and don't get our hands into God's creation until Friday afternoons...but, don't you just love virtual co-ops?  I know I do!  Yes, digressing...

This week, I read the first chapter of the book entitled, Winter ((how predictable was that?!)), and then shared with the kiddos what I knew they would find fascinating about winter.  

We talked about migration and how plants and animals protect themselves in winter, if unable to migrate.  We explored wind chill and heat loss through convection, radiation, conduction, and evaporation ((and then we warmed up again with some hot cocoa)).  We developed a chart which will help us track daylight hours, as well as daily high and low temperatures, until spring arrives, too.  But, decidedly, best of all we tuned in our keen nature-eye to winter's unique colors.  

Although we don't get a lick of snow here, did you know that snow actually helps sharpen the definition of colors?  No wonder snow pics are always fantastic!

But now, as Northern Californian transplant-folks, winter looks almost like spring, except the damp fog lies lower longer and, beautiful as it is, cries out for a blazing fire--now!    This week especially, we had to really challenge ourselves to see winter during our nature walk: it's been a consistent seventy degrees and we're loving every short-sleeve-minute of it!  But, I think we got it, finally.  Well, as best as we, not being Winslow Homers, could:

So, how do you tackle nature study in winter?  Do you live where it snows, or, like us, not?  What special winter colors could you capture this week?