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)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
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 encourage 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.
Describe the experience. How did you decide what activities to do?
What did you think would be the outcomes and what actually were the outcomes?
Do an interview with one of the participants about their experience. What did they find hard and did it reflect in their measurements?
Curriculum Links: see Life Systems
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Describe the conclusions of your study
Write an explanation for these findings. Why do you think the probabilities resulted as such?
Is there another view or perspective of objects with differing angles that you could possibly take to change the results of your study? What could be changed to adjust your results if you were to do this again?
Curriculum Links:
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
All resources shared with permission.
All resources shared with permission.
All resources shared with permission.
All resources shared with permission.
Why are you growing the plants? Example: food for your family, food for animals, aesthetics, etc.
What habitat do the plants require? Example: full sun, shade, etc.
What type of soil does it require?
How much space does it require to grow?
How large will it grow?
If it is a flowering plant, when will it flower? Will it only flower once or continue to flower?
If it is a vegetable or fruit what is the estimated time before it will be ready to pick?
Does the plant have any medicinal properties?
Can you find out if this plant is used by Indigenous peoples in Ontario or other folks, and what it is used for?
Is it an annual or perennial?
Curriculum Links:
See Measurement
See Visual Arts - Flower Fun
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Why did you choose this system and what are its deficiencies that need to be improved?
How would the new improvement work with the system you chose?
Who is your audience and how can you best appeal to their needs? For example, younger people move differently than older people. How can your addition to their body make them function better?
Review your piece of work and improve your writing using more complex sentences or change the content to better appeal to your audience before presenting your idea
Curriculum Link: see Life Systems
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Curriculum Links:
see Matter & Energy
see Dance
see Drama
see Music
see Visual Arts
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
How should they navigate outer space in order to find Earth?
Where would their spaceship land?
How would they then find your location once on Earth? Use intermediate cardinal directions (NE, NW, SE, SW) to navigate your town/city/area all the way to your door step
How would they know when they are at the correct location and how do they tell you?
Continue your journey by completing the activity in Oral Communication.
Curriculum Links:
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.