August brings the sheaves of corn,

Then the harvest home is borne.*

August! This month is a back-to-the­ books transition time for many homeschool households, so let’s  enjoy the dog days of summer and get our school plans organized!

In many parts of the US right now, it is very hot. Enjoying a museum is a cool treat. How about enjoying a trip to the Library of Congress from the comfort of your living room? Enjoy multimedia digital collections with the click of a mouse and no travel expenses!

Combine nature study with creative play by making your own natural dyes for playdough. Your children will enjoy finding out what colors the environment around them can provide. * Hat tip to LaDonna for this great link!

Does adding nature study to your homeschool curriculum feel daunting because you don’t feel knowledgeable or creative enough? Try visiting the Handbook of Nature Study blog. You’ll find free downloads, printables and enough nature challenges to last all school year. A great site to bookmark.

If you haven’t visited Donna Young’s site before, you are in for a treat. Her site features a wonderful array of free printable homeschool calendars, organizers, lesson plan templates and more.

*The Garden Year, by Sara Coleridge