Nature Journaling Lesson Plan
By Teresa Gable,
Introduction: Journaling is also a way to reflect and it allows a student to think at a deeper level. It serves as a diary or record of their experience outdoors.
Journaling is a process. It is the regular recording of observations, perceptions and feelings associated the natural environment.
Recordings can be done in a variety of ways, depending on a person’s background, training and interests. A person may choose to write in poetic prose, words and descriptions, quotes, drawings, paintings, photographs, mathematical statistics, scientific recordings, charts and graphs, etc.
History: “The habit of meditation is the basis for real knowledge” Many famous explorers and scientists practiced journaling and kept detailed notes and observations including Charles Darwin, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Gregor Mendel and Rachel Carson.
They kept detailed notes and drawings of their observations. Their insights and reflections they recorded in their journals are historic and made them famous.
Key Vocabulary
Reflection: A thought occurring in consideration or meditation.
Journal: A record of occurrences, experiences or observations
Meditation: Continued or extended thought and contemplation
Observation: A remark, comment or statement based on what one has noticed or observed
Lesson Outcome:
Students will learn how to record their thoughts using a field journal and be able to:.
- To learn how to record information in a field notebook
- To observe and reflect on the natural world
- To improve and incorporate sketches in their field notebooks
- To become more efficient at looking for details and learn how to use a magnifying glass
Lesson Objectives:
Activity 1: Introduction to a field journal
Begin by giving a background on the importance of keeping a field notebook. Show different samples of unique ways to document their experiences using references below. Explain that a field notebook is as unique as the person using it but that scientists and naturalists that record observations usually include specific details when they write about something they observe (especially outdoors):
- Their name
- The date
- The location
- The weather conditions
- Time of day
- Description of the area
- Other observations
Have the students open to the first page and write quote which describes them. Have them draw a self portrait of themselves on the page. Encourage freedom of expression. There is no right way to do this.
Materials: Field journal, small mirrors, pencil, colored pencils, inspirational book of quotes.
Activity #2: Group drawing
Students will record their observations of an object from outside: evergreen cone, indian corn, apple, oak leaf, flower, tree branch, or anything from the local environment. This will be a group activity. All students will be observing the same object.
Materials: Objects from the local environment, hand lenses, field notebooks, worksheet #1.
Have the students make a quick sketch of the item in their field notebook.
Record a note about the importance of the item. It can be a one sentence thought, poem, scientific facts or a sensory observation. Have the students share their thought with another student so they can see that different people have different ways to express themselves.
Using the magnifying glass, take a small section of the item and draw a detailed sketch of one small section of the item. Make sure to include details in your drawing. Practice how to draw texture, lines, shading and shape. Details are important.
Share your drawing with another student, label the parts you drew. It will look much different then the whole. See if you can find another student that drew the same part. Compare your drawings. Show some examples of good detailed drawings.
Now that the students have had practice with group drawing and recording information in their field journal they are ready for the next lesson, which is drawing an object they find interesting.
Activity #3: Random sketching, bringing nature into the
classroom
Materials: Field notebook, index cards, pencils, colored pencils and other art supplies, nature objects
guide books, Internet access, classification keys, other resources including nature art books, magnifying glass/ dissection scopes.
Choose several unique objects that you might find outdoors. Suggestions might include interesting rocks, seeds, pinecones, leaves, flowers, insects, thorns, fossils, shells, animal’s parts, skulls, bones, etc. Have a nice variety and make it interesting. The purpose of this activity is to excite the students about the treasures they might find outdoors. To begin, have the students select an object that motivates them.
Begin by researching the object, record all information they can find out about their object. Classification keys, guide books and the Internet are useful resources. Record the information in their field books.
Next, make several observations. Record your observations in the field notebook. Include details about color, texture, shape, numbers and patterns.
Sketch the object. Use a magnifying glass or dissection microscope to see details.
Hand the students an index card, instruct each student to write 3-5 sentences that describe their item. Once they are done, have the students place their item in the middle of the room. Take the index cards from the students and randomly hand them out so that everyone receives an index card that is not their own. Students then read the cards and try to guess which item in the middle of the room the description fits.
Activity #4 - Learning How to Interpret Nature Writing
Materials: Writing examples, field notebooks.
Have the students read the passages from the writing samples. The ask them the following questions:
1) What time of year is the author talking about?
2) How can you tell? Give at least one example from the poem or essay that tells you this.
3) Can you find a line in any of the writings that describes nature as human? Give an example.
References:
Brady, Irene. Illustrating Nature, Right-brain Art in a Left-brain World. Talent, OR: Nature Works Press, 2004
Campbell, Brian & Lori Fulton, Science
Notebooks, Writing About Inquiry.
Walker Leslie, Clare & Charles Roth. Keeping a Nature Journal.
Weeks, John. Nature's Quiet Conversations. Syracuse University Press. 2006.
House, Homer. Wildflowers of New York. 1918.
Morrow, Susan Brind. Wolves and Honey: A Hidden History of the Natural World. Houghton Mifflin Co. 2004.
Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press. 1949.