Students will read a nature-based poem in this ongoing class and then study related aspects of nature: seasons, wildflowers, moon phases, insects, animals, and more. The nature poems we read will be both classic and modern. Topics include the following:

2022
Week of Sept. 12: Harvest
Week of Sept. 19: Changes in Nature From Summer to Fall (Autumn)
Week of Sept. 26: Apples
Week of Oct. 3: Wind
Week of Oct. 10: Spiders 
Week of Oct. 17: Moon Phases
Week of Oct. 24: Bats
Week of Oct. 31: Pumpkins
Week of Nov. 7: Time Change
Week of Nov. 14: Tree Identification
Week of Nov. 21: Cloud Types
Week of Nov. 28: Hibernation
Week of Dec. 5: Snow
Week of Dec. 12: Evergreen Trees
Week of Dec. 19: Winter Solstice
**Weeks of Dec. 26 & Jan. 2** HOLIDAY BREAK: NO CLASS MEETINGS
2023
Week of Jan. 9: Squirrels & Mice
Week of Jan. 16: Owls

Each session will be opened by my reading a poem about nature. I will then ask students questions about the poem to assess their understanding of the poem, and I will also ask questions that help me gauge their prior knowledge of the nature topic we will be studying during that session. I will give a mini-biography of each poet we study. We will then have lessons about the nature subject of the week.

I encourage student input and engagement with both me and other students. I ask the class questions before reading or introducing material to gauge their interest and to see how familiar they are with the topic. I am passionate about poetry and nature study, and I believe this excitement will show and motivate the students to be passionate about learning the material. My goals are to teach students about the natural world at large and also show them how to discover and learn more about the natural environments in their own areas and locations. At the same time, I will be broadening their experiences with nature-related poems and introducing them to or reacquainting them with various poets. 

I will read poems, ask questions about the poem and the nature topic, and then lecture as I share slides, video clips, and photographs of nature. Some of the nature photos I will use are ones I have personally taken. The rest of the class time will be spent on activities and discussions centered on the nature subject of the week. Some examples of activities are identifying wildflowers in your area. Other activities will be more generalized, such as looking at and naming moon phases. Some activities will be completed during class time; others will involve some work outside of class. If you do not have any or very much exposure to nature in your current location, then this class will still be a good fit. I have activities for those who have limited access to nature.

This class is suitable for beginners of nature study, seasoned naturalists, and everyone in between.