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All Things Bright and Beautiful: Easy Way to Add More Nature-Appreciation to Your Kids’ Lives

All Things Bright and Beautiful

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Want to add more nature-appreciation to your kids’ lives?  Not sure where to start?  Try this!

It’s a poem!  It’s a hymn!  It’s a book!  It’s a great way to teach kids about our Creator God.

When a friend and I started a (sort of) formalized nature study emphasis with our four kids, we began with this well-known poem, which is also a hymn (and several artists have illustrated it in book form–see picture above and list below).  We learned and sang the hymn together, and I love, love, love how it emphasizes God’s attributes as Elohim, our Strong Creator. 

We sang all the verses, but focused on learning the chorus plus verses 2 and 7.  At home the boys and I even made up our own motions.  They loved it!  Little Brother was barely two at the time, and I was aiming our memorization at Older Brother, who was five.  One day Little Brother sang the entire song to me, which was when I realized that he picks up far more than I was giving him credit for!

If you learn the hymn, be aware that two tunes are commonly used for this song.  We prefer the melody arranged by Martin F. Shaw.

Check out All Things Bright and Beautiful on Youtube:

This one is sung by a choir in a very traditional style, and has nice nature pictures (photographs) scrolling throughout the song.


This is a more folksy version, with a guitar and rhythm instruments.  I recommend enjoying it after you’ve already learned the melody, as the singer improvises a bit with the tune.  It also has good nature photos.


This one is short and whimsical, with a child singing (very fast) and artsy animated illustrations of God creating the world.

Check out these illustrated picture book versions:

[Most of the books listed include sheet music and lyrics in the back of the book.]

 

This board book is perfect for toddlers.  Little Brother and I loved the illustrations!

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I think this is my favorite of the picture books, due to the illustrations.  Both boys really enjoyed watching the little girl go about her day’s activities; they enthusiastically pointed out God’s creations on each page.

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The unique illustrations in this version are bright and colorful, with many creatures to enjoy.  One neat aspect is the note written by the illustrator about how he created the pictures from cut paper, including pictures of his mother’s sewing scissors which he employed in this endeavor.

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Again, the boys loved observing the many creatures and creation pictured within the pages of this book.

All Things Bright and Beautiful

by Cecil Francis Alexander

1. All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

2. Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

All things bright …

3. The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them High and lowly,
He ordered their estate.

All things bright …

4. The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

All things bright …

5. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one:

All things bright …

6. The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;−

All things bright …

7. He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

All things bright …

Check out more ideas, inspiration and resources for exploring nature with kids…

Last Child in the Woods
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Need some motivation for adding–prioritizing, even–more outside time to your family’s schedule?  I HIGHLY recommend this book for all parents, teachers, service-providers, etc: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.

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3 ebook covers (1)

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Kathleen | Roots & Boots

Let's get real! I’m Kathleen Henderson, your Natural Living Mentor. I’m on a mission to help families see the joy in real food, while finding natural remedies and creating a nontoxic home. Learn more about my story >>

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