Introduction to Nature Journaling

Julie Dahl, Red Oak Elementary, Shakopee, MN
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Summary

In this biology field lab students will learn the importance of detail accuracy through nature journaling. Students will find a leaf, flower and insect to draw in their nature journals. This will be done as open inquiry and exploration. They will draw their pictures as scientists. From this lesson the students will conclude that it is important to pay attention to detail when observing and identifying objects in nature.

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Learning Goals

This activity is designed for students to explore their natural environment and discover the importance of detail in scientific drawings when used to identify objects. Students will learn about nature journals and their purpose for recording observations in the world around them. Students will become aware of attributes of objects that are critical in identification. The vocabulary for this particular lesson is: attribute, detail, journaling and observation.

Context for Use

This particular lesson is designed for a second grade classroom at the beginning of the science inquiry unit or when beginning nature journals. This is a field exercise with limited beginning structure or instruction intended to introduce nature journaling. This lesson would take three days to complete with sessions approximately one hour each. Students will need colored pencils, nature journals and access to the outdoors. This lesson does not require any prior knowledge to nature journaling. This lesson would be easily adapted to other grade levels and school environmental settings.

Description and Teaching Materials

Day One:

The students will need colored pencils, nature journals and access to the outside environment. To start the lesson we will read the story Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson by Amy Ehrlich. Using this story we will be able to introduce the love one can have for nature and the idea of nature journaling. The teacher will hand out the nature journals to each student. With a medium sized square tracer each child will trace one square on three pages in their journal and label page one with leaf, page two with flower and page three with insect. Once this is complete the teacher will lead the class outside. Students will find a special nature spot near a leaf to sit. Starting with a leaf the students begin their drawing including as much detail as they believe to be necessary. Once the three drawings have been completed gather students in a circle and lead a discussion about the attributes they see in the leaf the teacher has chosen. Discuss the shape, color, edging, veins, stem and texture. Have them look at their own drawings and see what details they included in their first drawings. Discuss how they think they can improve them for the second drawing so that their drawings can be more scientifically accurate. Have students go back to their leaf and try to draw it again but this time including the detail that was talked about in the discussion. Have them compare their two pictures in the end to see how much of a better scientist they have become. A variation of this assignment could be for the students to do a leaf rubbing the first time and look at all of the detail that shows up on a leaf rubbing. They could then use their pencils to try to draw all of the details that they see on the leaf rubbing.

Day Two:

Repeat the activity from above but today have the students focus on one flower. Remind the students about the importance of drawing the details. Have them carefully look at how many petals the flower has as well as the way the leaves grow on the stem of the flower. On day two the students only need to draw the flower one time.

Day Three:

Students can practice their nature journaling skills once again. This time the focus will be on drawing an insect. Live insects can be a bit tricky for students to carefully observe and draw because they may move and fly away. I have found collecting a variety of dead insects may be the best route to take here.

Teaching Notes and Tips

One of the biggest obstacles that will need to be overcome is the idea that the students "can't draw". Also as a precaution make sure you have set up specific guidelines, rules and consequences for outside learning. This activity will be new to our grade level because we have never done nature journaling or really gotten them involved in learning in the outside environment.

Assessment

Students will do a self assessment comparing their new drawing to a field guide provided by the teacher. They will look at key parts that are important in identifying their piece of nature. They will use this information to evaluate at least two things that they did well in the drawing and one thing they would like to improve for next time. This will allow them to critique and learn from their own mistakes to become better at nature journaling.

Standards

SC-1.B.2 The student will raise questions about the natural world, make careful observations and seek answers.

References and Resources