Getting Outside Through Nature Journaling
Getting students outside, excited, comfortable and learning are all important factors when considering using an outdoor space at any school.
-How do we manage a class outside?
-What do I teach outside?
-Where do I go outside to teach?
These are probably questions that you have been thinking about that may have stopped you from using outdoor spaces. The great thing is- so many of us have the same questions- and this is a great place to be to answer those questions! This toolkit has so many resources to get teachers comfortable and using outdoor spaces at any site. There are many supporting lessons and resources in the toolkit to help get you started so please take the time and browse around for what you need!
Why Start with Nature Journaling?
Nature Journaling has many benefits for all students, no matter their age!
Through nature journaling, students gain skills and knowledge in:
- Create stories
- Tracking Data
- Drawing
- Observing
- Recording
- Writing
- Cross content area work
Some benefits of going outside for students:
- Social and emotional skills
- Prior Knowledge Connections
- Place-Based Hands-On Learning
- Individualism
- Student lead/Teacher Facilitated
- Multiple Subjects Connection
- Equity and Inclusion
- Cultural Relativeness
- Real-world knowledge
Ready to get out and journal with your students? The following are some ideas provided by retired Belen School District Teacher and Nature Enthusiast and Activist- Molly Madden
Materials: Journal and Pencil
Suggested data on each journal page:
· Date, time, place
· Temperature
· Wind speed and direction
· Cloud/sky, conditions in past day
· Divide page into quadrants labeled HEAR, SEE, FEEL, SMELL to record observations. (TASTE could be included depending on your knowledge of plants and audience.)
· Use a quote from a favorite book or poem and respond to it. “The pleasure and value of every walk or journey we take may be doubled to us by carefully noting down the impressions it makes upon us.”—John Burroughs
· Leaf rubbings-record leaf shapes by rubbing their patterns with crayons.
· Do a silent walk, then sit to record all your observations.
· Listening-close your eyes, then record all sounds. How many different sounds are there in one place? How can you record the sounds?
· Colors-Look in one direction from your feet to the horizon, record all the colors. How many are there? How many shades of one color like brown in winter? Use your colored pencils/paints.
· Feeling-explore the texture of the soil, rocks, plants surrounding you-record with words and sketches.
· Watch one bird-record its movements, sounds, description for as long as it is visible and audible.
· Weekly journal-sit in the same spot every week at the same time and record changes in your observations.
· Animal signs-collect data of all signs you observe including location, description, and number. (examples might include tracks, scat, nests, holes or burrows, hills or mounds, bones, feathers)
· Plant diversity-record as many different plants as possible in given area. Draw leaves, flowers, or seeds, depending on the season to document the plant diversity. If permitted, tape your favorite specimen in your journal.
· Habitat diversity-record observations in different habitats in columns (e.g. pond, saltgrass etc.)
· Seasonal-What is special each season? Look for changes due to season in animals and plants. What can be observed at different seasons? Visit the same spot each season to record observations.
· Compare what is natural and what is man-made in a specific area. Can you tell?
· Look up, look down, look all around. Draw and write your observations at different levels.· Additional prompts available in Bosque Education Guide.
Check out our Resource Library for more lesson plans and activity ideas like these!