Category Archives: Principles of True Education
Nature Study Week ~ The Spirtual Importance of Nature Study
Today we share a collection of inspired quotes that remind us of the spiritual blessings to be gained from nature study. Be sure to explore the links at the end for easy-to-implement ideas.
An Unfailing Source of Instruction—Next to the Bible, nature is to be our great lesson book. Testimonies For The Church 6:185.
Growth in Grace—Tell your children about the miracle-working power of God. As they study the great lesson book of nature, God will impress their minds. The farmer plows his land and sows his seed, but he cannot make the seed grow. He must depend on God to do that which no human power can do. The Lord puts His vital power into the seed, causing it to spring forth into life. Under His care the germ of life breaks through the hard crust encasing it, and springs up to bear fruit. First appears the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. As the children are told of the work that God does for the seed, they learn the secret of growth in grace.
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 124, 125.
Nature Illustrates Bible Lessons—Many illustrations from nature are used by the Bible writers; and as we observe the things of the natural world, we shall be enabled, under the guiding of the Holy Spirit, more fully to understand the lessons of God’s Word.
Education, 120.
Nature and the Bible Were Jesus’ Textbooks—
His [Jesus’] education was gained from Heaven-appointed sources, from useful work, from the study of the Scriptures, from nature, and from the experiences of life—God’s lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart.
The Ministry of Healing, 400.
His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures shows how diligently His early years were given to the study of God’s Word. And spread out before Him was the great library of God’s created works. He who had made all things studied the lessons which His own hand had written in earth and sea and sky. Apart from the unholy ways of the world, He gathered stores of scientific knowledge from nature. He studied the life of plants and animals, and the life of man. From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others. For this He found resources in nature; new ideas of ways and means flashed into His mind as He studied plant life and animal life….
Thus to Jesus the significance of the Word and the works of God was unfolded, as He was trying to understand the reason of things. Heavenly beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts and communings was His. From the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in spiritual grace and knowledge of truth.
Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His Word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be elevated and refined.
The Desire of Ages, 70.
Ideas for adding a spiritual component to your nature study:
Bible verses to add to a winter or spring nature journal - Look under “Winter Journal” and “Spring Journal”
My Bible First : Nature Corner - Nature object lessons with a Bible verse. Great for copywork! **SDA resource
Child’s Nature Journal example with Bible verse
Clouds in the Heavens- Nature unit study based on Psalms 19:1. Free nine-page printable.
Nature Provides Object Lessons - A simple activity that lays the foundation of a wonderful Bible/nature study. **SDA resource.
Tomorrow: How to “DO” nature study.
Nature Study Week ~ What is Nature Study?
Nature Study is exactly what its name implies: a study of nature. At the same time, it is much more than simply watching grass grow. In terms of True Education, It is making a conscious choice to spend time in nature, discovering and gaining a deeper understanding of the wonders of creation and our Creator.
Busy modern life does not make much room for time in nature. Time exploring out-of-doors has been crowded out of our busy schedules. It is amazing to think that many children (and adults!) have no real understanding of the natural world around them. They may know the basics of how plants grow or that leaves change color in the fall from science textbooks, but they do not have an intimate personal knowledge of these processes. Hands-on nature time is more of a novelty than the norm. Sadly, there are many who have no idea what they are missing from not spending time in nature.
Nature study is much more than simply science. It is mathematical expression, a record of history, and inspiration for literature, music and fine art. Nature study is an opportunity to sharpen the powers of observation, to enrich and broaden our homeschool studies and most importantly for us as Seventh-day Adventist families – to draw our hearts closer to our Creator.
This week is Nature Study Week on the AHE blog. Please join us each weekday for ideas, inspiration and resources that will help make nature study a valuable part of your homeschool program. Tomorrow: The Spiritual Importance of Nature Study
Motivation Monday
We are to educate the youth to exercise equally the mental and the physical powers. The healthful exercise of the whole being will give an education that is broad and comprehensive. We had stern work to do in Australia in educating parents and youth along these lines; but we persevered in our efforts until the lesson was learned that in order to have an education that was complete, the time of study 
must be divided between the gaining of book-knowledge and the securing of a knowledge of practical work. Part of each day was spent in useful work, the students learning how to clear the land, how to cultivate the soil, and how to build houses, using time that would otherwise have been spent in playing games and seeking amusement. And the Lord blessed the students who thus devoted their time to acquiring habits of usefulness.
Instruct the students not to regard as most essential the theoretical part of their education. Let it be more and more deeply impressed upon every student that we should have an intelligent understanding of how to treat the physical system. And there are many who would have greater intelligence in these matters if they would not confine themselves to years of study without a practical experience. The more fully we put ourselves under the direction of God, the greater knowledge we shall receive from God. Let us say to our students: Keep yourselves in connection with the Source of all power. Ye are laborers together with God. He is to be our chief instructor.—The Review and Herald, November 11, 1909.
Motivation Monday
“The Bible must be made the ground-work and subject matter of education.” “When teachers become connected with the Great Teacher, we shall see the golden mixture of heaven in every line of study, binding all together, and enabling each one to do its work in revealing the character and purpose of God. Much is lost by the students because there is brought into their lessons studies that have an influence merely to make them ambitious to master them, while the truth is overshadowed and buried out of sight.”
Pamphlet 131 – Church Schools- page 13
Motivation Monday
“With us as parents and as Christians it rests to give our children right direction. They are to be carefully, wisely, tenderly guided into paths of Christlike ministry. We are under sacred covenant with God to rear our children for His service. To surround them with such influences as shall lead them to choose a life of service, and to give them the training needed, is our first duty.”
Ministry of Healing, 396
Motivation Monday
“True education is missionary training. Every son and daughter of God is called to be a missionary; we are called to the service of God and our fellow men; and to fit us for this service should be the object of our education.
This object should ever be kept in view by Christian parents and teachers. We know not in what line our children may serve. They may spend their lives within the circle of the home; they may engage in life’s common vocations, or go as teachers of the gospel to heathen lands; but all are alike called to be missionaries for God, ministers of mercy to the world.”
Ministry of Healing, 395
Adventist Junior Youth Bible Reading Plan
Looking for a Bible reading plan appropriate for younger children? Here is a link to the Adventist Junior Youth Bible Reading Plan. This reading plan takes four years and uses 12 different themes to organize the readings. Download the two-page .pdf file HERE.
