Nature presents amazing opportunities to observe, discover, learn, and to become inspired - that is exactly what this class is all about! New learners are welcome to join anytime! 

Each class is divided into three parts:

Nature Sharing:
Learners will be invited to share a nature item or experience with the class.

Exploring the weekly nature topic (an animal, plant, insect, bird, etc):
Using real nature artifacts, photos, and/or video clips, we explore the weekly topic. I share interesting facts and guide the discussion with open-ended questions, encouraging learners to make discoveries, share their prior knowledge and uncover new questions.  Examples of topics that have been explored in class are listed below.

Drawing/Nature Journaling:
We then use nature as inspiration for drawing and/or writing.  Learners can choose to draw/journal about the topic discussed in class or a nature topic of their choice. 

Everyone is welcome to journal in their own way – drawing, painting, writing, etc.  I will help learners who are new to nature journaling to brainstorm ideas/ways to add to a nature journal (using our senses, making observations for drawing, adding labels or important words, coming up with questions, etc).

After class, I will share information in the Outschool classroom about what was discussed in class.  When possible, I also provide resources for learners to find more information about the topic that I introduced in class.  

The overall goal of this class is to bring together young learners who are curious about nature and to use that love of the outdoors as inspiration for drawing/emergent writing.  It is also about supporting and encouraging curiosity about nature, sharing our ideas and theories, as well as uncovering new questions.

Examples of topics that have been discussed in class:
Tide pool discoveries
Pinecones
Acorn Woodpeckers
Bird nests
Leaves changing over the seasons
Sand crabs
Garden snails
Hawks
Unusual seed pods
Grasshoppers