Nature Journaling: Honing Observation Skills

Observation is a vital skill that is useful in any profession.

Today was our first attempt at nature journaling.

Students had the following guidelines: Sit on the ground in front of a natural object at least one body length apart from any classmate, Look straight ahead. The area from the ground to the top of your head and from one shoulder to the other is your "view window." Draw a large rectangle on your paper. Inside that box draw what you see. Draw a smaller square. Pick an object from inside your "view window" to draw. Write observations around the boxes. Reserve a corner of your two page spread for questions. Write a few questions.

Written observations focused on color, shape, pattern, size, quantity, texture, fragrance, sound. Animal activity and behavior should be noted.

Students record their observations in their classroom journals which are actually set up as a cross between an field biologist's journal and an interactive one. At the beginning of the semester when we set up the journals, I shared a few articles written by wildlife scientists on the importance of their recorded observations to their research.

I visited each student, making about four circles providing students with feedback and asking questions. Surpringly, I had to give very little redirection.

Observation naturally leads to appreciation. Skills honed outdoors "in the field" transfer back "in the lab." Lessons taught in the classroom are applied and demonstrated outdoors.

Over time students develop their own style. What this student does on paper can be recreated using software like Prezzi. This also aids students in notetaking skills.

The students performed wonderfully. They will share observations, and I'll try to answer some of their questions.