Nature journaling is a powerful to engage students in scientific observation, artistic expression, creative writing, and self-reflection (Laws & Lygren, 2020). At the beginning of every class, students were invited to take 10 minutes to go outside or sit by a window and free write or respond to a prompt. Students could use a notebook or a journaling app and were encouraged to be creative. This activity integrated Indigenous ways of knowing, mindful movement, and equitable freedom of expression while also drawing on what we were learning about poetry, art, and literature.
Sample Prompts and Student Responses
Reference
Laws, J.M., & Lygren, E. (2020). How to Teach Nature Journaling: Curiosity, Wonder, Attention. Heyday Books.