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Nature Journaling-inspiring ideas from our home
Moving your Nature Journals off the Bookshelf of Good Intentions
I must confess I wasn’t a nature buff. As a kid my favourite nature show was Gilligan’s Island (I wanted to be Mary Ann), and my favourite nature holiday destination was a Gold Coast theme park. So, when I read about nature journaling, it just made me feel guilty. Yet another thing I wasn’t doing. So I just put it in the mental pile of things I would like to do in the future— but probably wouldn’t.
A few years ago, I began to read more about nature journaling and I was reminded that using this tool would help my kids to observe the intricacies of nature; give them an outlet for their artistic and written expression; and help them see nature as more than just scientific names and processes. I wanted to cultivate this habit now, so in the future they would love nature and it’s Creator.
We started our nature journaling in a simple notebook. We used The Wonderland of Nature as our ‘bread and butter’ resource for nature study. We would read the text and then go into the backyard in search of our specimen; we read how aphids are ant cows, so we went looking and found them being ‘milked’ in the mandarin tree; we read about what clever engineers spiders were and we went outside to examine a spider’s web. Then we got out our drawing pencils and sketch books to make an entry. Other times I asked the kids to narrate from a nature book and gave them pictures to sketch or cut out, to help them create their nature pages.
I plan about two nature walks a term and the rest of my nature study is done about once a week using living books,nature stories and backyard observations. Since the kids have become more aware of their surroundings they also create opportunities. Just recently there was great excitement when one of the kids discovered a praying mantis on the back porch, everyone was called and pictures were taken.
Nature journaling is a form of notebooking. Put simply, it is keeping a journal about nature. It has no rules, so you will always get it right. It is a creative, expressive observation of nature. It can be artistic, literary or both.
This picture is one child's nature journal entry from that day.A Family Visit to the Lily pond
‘Hey kids, after lunch we’re going on a nature walk.’ I announce with enthusiasm. The kids reply in monotones, ‘Great!’
Not the response I was hoping for.
After lunch I bark out orders. ‘Get hats, get water, get sketch books, get pencils, not those shoes. No! you can’t take Beary. No! you can’t take your scooter. Ok! Beary can come but he has to stay in the car.’ Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
We are finally on our way. As we drive, I hear all the different reasons why my kids think a nature walk is a bad idea.
We park the car, lather ourselves with ‘mossi-stuff’ and off we go.
We walk, talk and absorb our surroundings. One child has a headache and is complaining about the heat, another hates big ants. I dash to rescue a tree that is having all its fruits pulled off, I then give a short lecture on preserving the native flora.We plod on until we turn a corner and our spirits soar. The kids run madly towards the pond. I feel like we have found Monet’s garden. The Giant Water Lily’s are in full bloom, bees sip their nectar and dragonflies hover about. The willows dangle lazily into the water. Willy wagtails hop nearby. The kids are exhilarated.
We set up our watercolour pencils and sketch books and begin to draw in this peaceful place.
After an hour, we climb back into the car, happy and refreshed, wanting to bring some friends next time.
This article first appeared in A Living Education 2007 Issue 20
Make nature journaling a part of your homeschool! Find out how to nature journal with kids
The Wonderland of Nature and The Wonderland of Nature Journal will inspire your nature journaling..
A Bush Calendar is an Australian nature diary written by Amy Mack over a year in the early 1900’s. Her enthusiasm is infectious and it draws you out into the bush.
Crowns of Fire is a beautifully illustrated masterpiece that will delight as it teaches about bush fires.
Nature Talks to New Zealanders written by Phillip Crosbie Morrison is an amusing scientific look at the flora and fauna of New Zealand. It makes comparisons with Australia. Recommended by New Zealand homeschoolers.