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Nature Journal

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Started 10 months ago by Jennifer
Latest reply from Inky

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Jennifer
Member

Hello! I'm beginning to gather supplies for our upcoming school year. What do you like for a nature journal for your young children. I think I definitely want something that is bound (as opposed to loose papers). We can always glue in special pages when we use them, but my children prefer open ended drawing/labeling, etc. What size? Is a certain type of paper more suitable for drawing nature? Where is the best place to find them?

Also, I was planning to use Nature Study as our sole science studies this next school year. I'm beginning to wonder if that is enough.... Any thoughts? My plan was to use The Outdoor Hour Challenge as our weekly focus, adding in extra books about the topic to explore further. We may also read some more in the Among the.....People series that we already own and Christian Liberty Nature Reader for my 2nd grader for reading practice.

This is the first year I will be completely CM, and I think I'm both excited and a little nervous! (As a classroom teacher, I always got those back to school jitters of excitement, too!)

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
MamaSnow
Member

My oldest is in first grade, and all we have really been doing for science has been nature study also - we also use the Outdoor Hour Challenges weekly (or biweekly as the case may be) and sketching in our nature journals (I just use wire bound sketchbooks - sorry I don't have any tips on specifics since we're overseas - I just bought ours in a store that would be somewhat equivalent to a Walmart or Target in the States) and reading from assorted nature books - I read about 2x week out loud from things like Outdoor Secrets, Among the _____ People, or Thornton Burgess, and my dd reads on her own around 3x week from the Christian Liberty Nature Reader. That's all we're doing this year for 1st, and probably all we'll do next year for 2nd. I may look into a real science curriculm for 3rd, but we'll see how we go. =) So yes...sounds to me like you're doing fine! (And hey...I'm a former classroom teacher too!! =))

Blessings,
Jen

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
Corie
Member

I know someone has suggested these:

http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/searchquick-submit.sc?keywords=notesketch

Also, if you are not already subscribed to Living Books Curriculum, you can sign up and receive all sorts of free downloads, one of which is a really great nature journal, with all sorts of helpful info:

http://www.livingbookscurriculum.com/

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

I bought an artist sketchpad from Walmart for $3.78 and they are great. To be honest, you can just read the above stories and go on Nature Walks. We observe a plant, animal, insect, water creature, clouds, seeds, leaves, etc and identify them by our reference books. Often my older kids will point out a bird or animal they read about in the Thorton Burgess books and share a fact about it.

So basically, we go on a study excursion, observe and identify, and then come home. The quality of our entries has improved immensely since I started this because we aren't trying to balance our pads and pencils while chasing little ones who would rather run and be loud - which often scares our subjects, lol. When we get home, I try to find a print out a picture that they can use as a reference while drawing and we add our scientific names or whatever (you could use a field guide but it is hard top share a small book with several people).

I like this because we can be more serious and realistic in our drawings, and they want to be more serious since we just personally saw it. The littles color a picture of one and we glue it in their book. What I am personally enjoying is looking them up on the internet and getting further info about them, including sound and movie bites. Fun. In my opinion, this is nature study turned into a "science lesson" where they are making their own connections with what they saw, have read and now drawn (maybe they can learn to identify a bird or bug by noise so they can find it on the next excursion).

One thing I have found to be very helpful in this type of "instruction" is to be deliberate about making a "Nature Study Box" with things from your walks the kids have not "studied" yet - this can be rocks, feathers, nuts, shells, bones, etc. I also take the camera with me and take pictures. I save these for the "Nasty Weather Days" and times when we weren't able to get out of the house due to illness or something.

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
Corie
Member

sheraz~I LOVE the idea of collecting items for rainy day nature study!

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
Carolyn
Member

We are also doing nature study and Outdoor Secrets this coming year. I bought a spiral bound artist sketch diary (70 pages) from Walmart. It was located by the kids crafts and was $4. I bought one for my ds (5yo) and one for myself. Now that I write this I am thinking...my 2yo will need his own nature book

I also bought artist pencils to use. In Charlotte's writings (not sure where I read it but probably in volume 1) that she gave children good quality art supplies.

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

Oh, yes, thanks Carolyn. Forgot to mention that. =) We also use watercolor pencils and nice quality drawing pencils.

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
LDIMom
Member

@sheraz, I got some watercolor pencils on clearance at Jo-anns. But how do you use them (as opposed to regular colored pencils)?

I am admittedly not very well-versed on artist materials!

I like your ideas too Sheraz of coming home and extending the learning, and printing out (or finding in books) actual photos of the animals, nature objects. GREAT idea!

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

If you have watercolor pencils you draw with them like a normal one. Then you get a small paintbrush and SMALL amounts of water and paint over the pencils with the water. LOVE it. If the pencil is not too heavy, it blends beautifully. =)

We do have the watercolors in tubes and all the stuff that entails, but this is quick, easy and can look great in our journals.

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
Jennifer
Member

I am not familiar with watercolor pencils. They sound fabulous! My daughter is an artist in her own right and loves to try new medium. Where would I find them? My primary school supply stores are Target and Staples, so I'm hoping you will say one of these!!

Sheraz, I love your idea. I find, though, that I tend to not follow through if I don't have a definite plan. The plan can be general. One thing I like about the OUtdoor Hour Challenge is that each challenge has assignments for me as the teacher (reading specific pages in the Handbook of Nature Study which otherwise would be a reference book that sits on my shelf).

Thanks for ALL the input. Very helpful and informative.

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
LDIMom
Member

@Jennifer, I am with you on Target and Staples, but I find the cheapest way to get high-quality pencils and paint is at Jo-Anns and/or Michaels with a 50% off coupon. Sometimes on holiday weekends, you can get an extra 10% off of that.

I do love the Prismacolor pencils for instance, but a 72-count is nearly $100. OUCH. So, I buy them at 50% off. I got them for a family Christmas gift in 2010, and we are down to nubs on almost every color! So, they have lasted more than a year and a half, and we use them ALL THE TIME. They really are a lot better than the Crayola, though we have those as well for 2YO to use and sometimes for 7 and 6YO (they like to use the Dover coloring books and they will use the crayola colored pencils in those if they don't want to use crayons at the moment).

Yes, I do limit the Prisma to our nature journals or art time LOL!

Anyway, that is what we do, and these are the ones we have (and I'm saving up to buy).

http://www.joann.com/prismacolor-72-colored-pencil-set/xprd222816/?green=F5F1487C-522B-5278-0A9A-4FEB23231A6E

I found the Watercolor pencils I just bought at Joanns for $5. They aare regular $15. These are the ones I bought.

http://www.joann.com/loew-cornell-watercolor-pencils-24pk/xprd233254/

I just didn't know how to use them (@Sheraz, thanks!!!)

The lady at our Joann's did tell me now is the best time to look for clearance, and she explained to me that often it is the exact same item but the packaging is being updated so they clearance it out. The clearance items are all in the different secions, not separated out so you have to go looking for what you want.

HTH

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

@jennifer - I have the Handbook and use it occassionally. Our State Dept of Conservation is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS when it comes to eduation - they have even created a K-2 curriculum for Nature Study for teachers and homeschoolers that is free. It has activities for every season and covers art, science, math, and more including the figures for flannelboard stories. They have free posters, books, leaflets, and other resources that you can get for free to learn to recongnize what is around you. They have a free monthly magazine, both for adults and one for kids. That is one reason I know that we can just have the basic plan that we can go out, find something interesting, and research it easily to identify it. I know enough about our area that I can generally have some info about it (even if it is just that it is a spider, lol), and if I don't, the Dept. of Conservation does. I love that the kiddos are making such strides in learning about the things in nature that directly affects both nature and us. We were doing this years before I started homeschooling and calling it Nature Studies, and formalized it by creating journals. One of my daughters enjoys it so much that she begs to have nature studies.

However, if I was new to this Nature Study concept, unsure of how to start or even where, the Outdoor Challenges are a great place to start. A blank piece of paper and crayola colored pencils are simple and easy. You might just play with those for a couple of weeks while you find your groove.

Honestly, I think that the nature study just might be one of my very favorite subjects! =) I hope that you can find a level of joy and excitement in it!

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
LDIMom
Member

@Sheraz, meant to say THANK YOU for explaining the watercolor pencils. Mine didn't come with any directions, and we tried wetting the paper BEFORE. That of course didn't work (kind of thinking now "what was I thinking?" LOL).

I plan to try this one day this week myself and have an example, and then get them out for the children. Thanks for the tips!

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

@LDIMom - LOL (because sometimes using watercolors you do get the paper wet first, so you probably sort of thought that might work!) You're welcome for the tip. ;)

Posted 10 months ago # Report Post
GuarinoMom
Member

What size journals does everyone use? I need to purchase mine and cannot decide which is best. This will be our frist year doing Nature Study and my kids are ages 11 and 8.

Thanks!

Jen

Posted 9 months ago # Report Post

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