Seasonal observations, nature notes, and homeschool reflections from the week outdoors.
Field Notes · Late August
We took a late-summer road trip to the Oregon coast this week. It already felt windy at home before we left, but we were surprised by how hard it blew when we reached the beach. Some of the plants looked familiar, while there were so many different ones to discover too! We wondered about the broken crab shells and sand dollars, and a piece of coal we found along the shore. Our week ended back at home with a clear night to view a near-total lunar eclipse.
What We Noticed
- We drove through a temperate rainforest
- Sand blew in our eyes
- Different plants grow along the coast
- I saw a 95% lunar eclipse
Weather Conditions
It is windy at home this week, and even windier at the coast.
Field Notes
- I found a dahlia with dark leaves
- Salal berries look a lot like grapes
- Grasses and small flowering plants grow in the sand
- On the beach I found: driftwood, crab shells, broken sand dollars, and anthracite coal
Wondering About
Why do sand dollars have hexagon shapes on the back?
Reading Together
- The Relatives Came – Cynthia Rylant
- Twenty Yawns – Jane Smiley
Find our related seasonal book lists and story reflections at our blog: parMINDary.com
Download the free Weekly Field Notes page from the parMINDary Resource Library →