Junior Naturalists: Science and Nature Journaling for Ages 8-13

A nature journal is your ticket to a deep exploration of the world around you.  A nature journal is a place to record your encounters with the natural world — from the everyday to the sublime. Field sketches, regardless of the degree of artistic talent with which they are rendered, force us to look closely and observe nature as it really is. Simply put, nature journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world around you. The recording can be done in a wide variety of ways, depending on the individual journalist’s interests, background, and training.  

Nature Journaling for Ages 8-13 is designed as a ongoing class whereupon students will be guided each class period to explore a nature topic in the outdoors and guided to record their observations in a nature journal. Classes meet twice each week for 40 minutes. In the first session of the week, a nature / science topic is introduced to provide background knowledge and provide a basis for exploration. Students are then asked to go outside to investigate the topic. The second session of the week is devoted to documenting their observations in depth, learning to record their observations with sketches, photographs, and descriptive words. 

While not the primary focus of the course, mini art lessons will occasionally be integrated into the lesson in order to provide suggestions and tips for successful illustration of the subject matter.