An Introduction to Nature Journaling
Nature journaling is catching on with homeschoolers, and it's easy to see why. This fun activity gets kids outside, exploring their surroundings and jotting down what they see. By mixing art, science, and writing, nature journaling helps kids notice details, stay curious, and learn in a well-rounded way. It's a great way to make learning exciting while connecting with nature.
Besides the learning perks, nature journaling is also great for mental and emotional health. Being in nature can lower stress and anxiety, helping kids feel calm and mindful. This practice allows them bond with their environment and appreciate its beauty. Whether new to homeschooling or just looking to spice things up, nature journaling is a fantastic tool.
For October, we will be taking a deeper look at nature journaling on the blog and in our Homeschool Insiders membership. We will also examine hiking locations in the Walla Walla Valley and how to incorporate this into your weekly homeschool calendar.
Getting started with a curriculum or on your own?
In our homeschool curriculum, we utilize Gentle Classical Press's Nature Course. In this course, one day a week is set aside for a nature walk to visit the same body of water throughout the year. This helps the children see the same plants and animals throughout the seasons.
However, you do not have to follow a specific curriculum to incorporate aspects of nature journaling into your homeschool time with your children. You can head outside and help direct your children in the nature surrounding them. You don't even have to go further than your backyard or neighborhood. Please don't let this seem overwhelming to you.
Getting Started in a Gentle and Easy Way
To start with nature journaling, you only need some paper and a pencil. While it is nice to offer different mediums for your children based on their interests and abilities, it isn't a necessity.
One of my children loves to paint in their nature journal, but one likes to use a pencil to sketch what they see and then repaint it when they have time. Getting them outside and putting something on the paper is a great way to start.
In our family, I have to remind my children (and myself) that the images we create do not need to be perfect. The purpose is not to make an image that will go into an art museum but more so to get out and see the environment around us and how it changes throughout the seasons. We have also had walks where we used a camera to take photos instead of painting or drawing pictures.
When starting nature walks with your children, asking leading questions can help them to see more details. Over time, your children will need less prompting when on a walk and will start to point out these details to you as well. Some examples of these questions can be:
What color are those flowers?
Are the colors darker or lighter in the middle of the flower?
Is the stem of that plant soft or rough? Why do you think the plant has those textures on its stem?
Do you notice more plants in the shade or out in the sun?
If you were going to try to remember this plant to tell Daddy later, what parts would be the most memorable for you?
When we're done with our walk, I like to ask what their favorite part was or what part stood out to them the most.
Educational Benefits of Nature Journaling
Introducing nature journaling into your homeschool schedule can help increase your children's ability to look for details and ask in-depth questions. It can also easily be tied into art, science, or biology subjects that you are most likely already doing with your children.
Taking the images that children see in their surroundings and putting them on paper will help your child use all of their senses and help them look at their environment in more detail than they previously have. They can go from "I see the grass, and the skies are blue." to "The grass smells fresh, there are drops of dew on the ends of the taller grass, and the sky has small clouds and a light blue color."
Applying the senses to your child's observations can help them increase their scientific thinking and observations. Ask leading questions about each sense to help get your child thinking. You can ask them about how the grass feels under their feet or hands if the sun is warm on their face, and if they hear any birds or insects near them. They can then use this information to fill in a page in their journal.
Helping your child to see more details of their surroundings will help them later in their academic studies. Training them to see the minute details now can help them immensely when they are conducting intricate experiments on their high school careers.
Emotional and Mental Health Benefits
A secondary outcome of nature journaling is the increase in time spent outdoors. Getting our children outside and enjoying nature is a huge goal in our family. We go on hikes throughout our property, and this month, our goal is to find at least one more trail to explore.
My goal is for my children to be aware of the plants and animals around them.
What's next?
In the coming month, I will share our favorite books that provide more details on the practice of nature journaling and some of our favorite supplies.
Have you and your children tried Nature Journaling? Do you have any tips for others who are getting started? Please share them in this post's comments and consider joining the conversation on Homeschool Insiders.