Introducing Nature Journal
Summary
This is an introduction to the nature journal. Students will get an opportunity to use their nature journals when we visit the prairie garden at our school. Students will choose one plant and describe it in words and with a drawing. As a classroom follow-up, students will try to match their journal entry with photographs of the plants from the garden.
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Learning Goals
This activity is designed for students to learn the routine for using their nature journals and practice using their observation skills and descriptive writing skills in their journal writing. The key concept I would like them to master is the understanding of what a nature journal is and why scientists use them. Another concept is the introduction of the prairie garden and being able to describe and illustrate types of plants and insects found. Higher order skills used will be observation, describing with words and illustrations.
Vocabulary:
-Nature journal
-Prairie
-Perennial
Vocabulary:
-Nature journal
-Prairie
-Perennial
Context for Use
This lesson was designed for my classroom of 26 3rd graders at the public school I teach at. It is a field exercise that begins inside, goes outside to the prairie garden, and ends inside in the classroom. I would allow at least 45 minutes for this initial activity. I feel this activity could easily be adapted to any outdoor setting.
Description and Teaching Materials
Materials:
-Prairie garden or any outdoor setting
-Nature journals (1 per student)
-Pencils
-Various plastic lids (margarine and yogurt tops)
-Pictures of plants in our garden
-Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman
Discuss with students why scientists use journals, what kinds of information goes in them, and the importance of the date and place on each page. Show where in the classroom we will always keep our journals and what we will write with.
Discuss concept of gardens and discuss various types. Explain about our prairie garden. Read poem "Heavenly" from Butterfly Eyes and other Secrets of the Meadow. Discuss behavior expectations of outside learning and being in the garden. Distribute the journals and have students turn to the first page and put the date and place. Under the date have each student trace around a plastic lid designating the place they will draw. Go outside and let the students explore the garden for a few minutes. Divide the class into 4 groups and designate the area of the garden they will be observing. Have them sit quietly and write 3 describing words about the plant they are focusing on and draw the plant. After 5 minutes go back in the classroom for a final task. Gather in a circle and have students try to identify what they drew from photos taken in the garden. Encourage them to name what they found and color it. Emphasize the place to keep these special journals.
-Prairie garden or any outdoor setting
-Nature journals (1 per student)
-Pencils
-Various plastic lids (margarine and yogurt tops)
-Pictures of plants in our garden
-Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman
Discuss with students why scientists use journals, what kinds of information goes in them, and the importance of the date and place on each page. Show where in the classroom we will always keep our journals and what we will write with.
Discuss concept of gardens and discuss various types. Explain about our prairie garden. Read poem "Heavenly" from Butterfly Eyes and other Secrets of the Meadow. Discuss behavior expectations of outside learning and being in the garden. Distribute the journals and have students turn to the first page and put the date and place. Under the date have each student trace around a plastic lid designating the place they will draw. Go outside and let the students explore the garden for a few minutes. Divide the class into 4 groups and designate the area of the garden they will be observing. Have them sit quietly and write 3 describing words about the plant they are focusing on and draw the plant. After 5 minutes go back in the classroom for a final task. Gather in a circle and have students try to identify what they drew from photos taken in the garden. Encourage them to name what they found and color it. Emphasize the place to keep these special journals.
Teaching Notes and Tips
This activity would be appropriate for any age group and this lesson could be used with any nature observation. I plan to make this the first of many trips to our prairie garden looking at various grasses and insects.
Assessment
I will assess the students on participation and work completion.
Standards
III. Life Science B: Diversity of organisms
III. Life Science C. Interdependence of Life
III. Life Science C. Interdependence of Life