Nature Journaling—the process of keeping a notebook of nature sketches, observations, and things you wonder about the natural world—is one of the best ways to explore nature with your children and at the same time teach them fundamental skills such as drawing, scientific exploration and inquiry, describing nature with poetry and prose writing, and using mathematics.
Why Nature?
Why journal about nature? The answer to this question is easy: the natural world is infinitely beautiful, wonderful, and marvelous. The perfect design of everything about a tree, a tiny chickadee, even an acorn, will jump out at you if you give these things a little attention. There will never be an end to what you and your children can discover when you walk out the front door. Nature is all around us every day; all we need to do is take the initiative to notice and cherish it.
Why Journaling?
So why should my children keep a nature journal? Why can’t they just look at what’s in front of them and remember it in their heads? Journaling introduces your children to a new way of seeing nature. You will find over and over again while exploring nature that everything has meaning; everything has some purpose just waiting to be unveiled. Through the scientific process of observing, wondering, and making connections, your children will be able to find the beauty and complexity in a single flower…and a huge oak. Journaling also serves as an intersection point for the disciplines of math, language arts, and science through its process of drawing, writing, and counting the things that you observe and wonder about. Lastly, when children see the beauty of nature that is opened up to them through journaling, they will naturally want to protect and conserve the natural things that they have formed a connection with. Journaling naturally inspires stewardship of nature through its process.
Consider encouraging your children to start drawing and writing down what they see on a walk to the park, or playtime in the backyard. The simple act of drawing a flower, or writing down a bird song, will spark in your child a hunger to know more and make them want to protect these things. Check out this Nature Journaling with Your Family webpage for more information on journaling with your children. To learn more about the process and practice of nature journaling, click here.