IF YOU ARE NEW TO NATURE JOURNALING PLEASE LOOK AT OUR NATURE JOURNALING PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to look for interaction in the world around them and the impact on our environment.  Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.

  At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and It reminds me of..." become very intuitive.  However, the last statement becomes very important for making the connections.  Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs and even poetry.  Please note that spelling is not the focus in a nature journal.  At this age you may start to see art fears - ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture.  It is about their observations.  Please see the link below for tips on giving feedback.  Using a combination of words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission, Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.  

Here are some more  ideas to get you started.

• Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)

• Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)

• Physically connect with a natural object and brainstorm ways they could be used to support environmental awareness

• Make observations, daily/weekly/monthly around the weather, seasonal changes, and how they impact the community/individual.

Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission.  "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."

GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie

NOTE: You are encouraged to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling.  However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.

We are members of a global community. Our actions can directly impact the natural environment and humans in both a positive or negative way. 

• Participate in a Citizen Science activity to increase your knowledge and to do your part as a global citizen. Go to the Citizen Science section of this website. Look through the descriptions of one of the programs and choose something that you’re interested in.  Do you like to watch birds or  discover lady bugs?  Do you like plants, or are worms more your thing? 

• As a citizen scientist you will collect data and information that will help scientists around the world learn more about the health of the world’s ecosystems. 

If you are inside, you can certainly join in. You can participate in another aspect of a program like growing plants that pollinators need for survival. 

• Look around your home and consider ways that you can be a better global citizen.  

• Create a GOOS (Good On One Side) paper bin for your family, make observations about how your family uses electricity and water and suggest ways to conserve. 

Write a letter to a local, provincial or national politician to express your views and concerns about an environmental or social issue that you are interested in and feel strongly about. Remember, your actions and your voice matter and can make a difference!