You can use a spiral-bound notebook, a loose-leaf notebook or just a few pieces of paper stapled together to make a tree journal with your child.
The next time you and your child are outside, choose a tree to study. Get to know your tree. Give it a name if you like! Pay attention to its overall shape, the roots (if visible), the texture of the bark, and the branches and twigs. Does the tree have flower or leaf buds? Write down details noticed by your child.
Have your child draw a picture of your tree in the journal or on the cover.
Once every few days, take a photo of the tree from the same location. If you have the equipment, print out the photos and add them to your journal. In the next few weeks, you will be able to see how flowers (if it has them) and leaves develop and grow.
Here's my tree:
"Leif Mapleson" 3/28/2020
(an appropriate name for a Norway Maple)
Make a bark rubbing.
Tape a piece of white paper (any size larger than a 1/2 sheet of computer paper will do) to the trunk of the tree.
Peel the paper label off of a dark-colored crayon.
Rub the side of the crayon over the paper until you see the bark pattern coming through.
Peel the tape and paper off and tape it into your tree journal!
3/31/2020: bark rubbing - Leif is pretty bumpy!
"Leif Mapleson" 4/6/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 4/10/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 4/14/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 4/19/2020
4/19/2020: Something interesting is happening!
"Leif Mapleson" 4/20/2020
4/20/2020: Red leaves are starting to come out!
4/20/2020: There are things that look like flowers on the top branches.
"Leif Mapleson" 4/25/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 4/25/2020
4/27/2020: The leaves are finally starting to look more leaf-shaped.
4/29/2020: What a beautiful sight to wake up to this morning! The rising sun made Leif's new leaves glow!
"Leif Mapleson" 4/30/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/2/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/2/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/4/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/4/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/5/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/6/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/7/2020
5/2/2020: Leif's leaves are almost as large as my hands!
"Leif Mapleson" 5/8/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/9/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/14/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/17/2020
5/17/2020: Today Leif had a guest!
It was a Cooper's Hawk.
Can you see the hawk up in the branches?
"Leif Mapleson" 5/18/2020
"Leif Mapleson" 5/18/2020