Nature Journaling

Today was Group Two's first day of Nature Journaling!

We went outside to draw what we could see around us.

We drew bamboo, oak and fig leaves, seed pods, and ants.

Some did rubbings of the leaves or bark.

We looked through frames made of  heavy paper to see things differently, to help us focus.

After moving to a few different places around the school,

we returned to the cool of the classroom to color in our pictures,

adding describing words to complete

our time of nature journaling.

This is a great activity for all. Try to get outside atleast once a week. Simply take your pencil and a pad of paper that has a stiff binding so it is easy to hold while drawing. Look around you. Look at the small things. Begin to draw. Fill up a whole page with all sorts of things that you see each time you venture out. We had bamboo, fig leaves, seed pods and rubbings on the same page. If you have a child that is reluctant to draw, this is a great activity, for when you are out there sitting on the ground with them drawing, they are more likely to join in and find they can actually do it. Show him that the leaf is sort of a triangle, or an oval shape with squiggly edges as you are drawing it in your own journal. He will learn to see things in simple shapes, too.

Another helpful hint is to have them draw lightly so they can erase more easily. The young child has a tendency to draw with a heavy hand making erasing difficult, therefore becoming discouraged at their messy page.

After a good amount of time has been spent freely drawing, begin to talk about your surroundings, putting down notations in your journal. What is the temperature? Today it was hot and muggy. Is it quiet? We could hear alot of traffic. What color are the leaves? Some were brown and crunchy. Some were deep green and leathery. What color are the veins? Is it soft? Where are you? Today we were at school, but you can take them for a walk in your neighborhood as well as your back yard or the beach. Are you with any particular friends? We had alot of friends today. And adjectives! Think of strong words together to describe the world around them putting them in their nature journal.

These books will inspire.

Any of Clare Walker Leslie's books are great.

Have fun exploring and drawing together!