Chaos Coordinator Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 We started nature journals today. It was kind of a task for him :rolleyes: but he obliged anyway. His first assignment was to scribble with the colors that he sees. He picked the green map pencil. I encouraged him to hold it like he would for writing. He kind of fiddled with it. Did a few quick scribbles, then scampered off again. It didn't help that it was a bustling morning at the park with a birthday party going on. But I was still proud of him for obliging my request. Now to decide what to have him do next. He's only at the tracing and scribbling phases. Maybe collect some leaves to trace? Do you keep a nature journal with your early elementary aged kids? What do you put in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Coordinator Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 (I think I may have put this in the wrong place - hard to navigate from my phone!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 We are going to try to "Nature Journal" this fall, too. I'm inspired by a workshop at last month's homeschooling convention. We've never done this before, so I'm not sure how much help I can be. So far, this website is helpful: Handbook of Nature Study I also found this book at the library, but you may want to do a subject search at your own library to see what you can turn up. I haven't had time to do anything but browse through the book so far. I can't tell you whether it is good or bad for this subject. Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth If you figure anything else out, let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaNadine Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I love the idea of nature journaling, and it is something I want to implement with my son. I've been collecting a lot of ideas on Pinterest if you want to look through them. http://pinterest.com/emmanadine/homeschool-nature-journal/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmomma Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I love the idea of nature journaling, and it is something I want to implement with my son. I've been collecting a lot of ideas on Pinterest if you want to look through them. http://pinterest.com/emmanadine/homeschool-nature-journal/ Ohhh Emmmm Geeee. I love your boards. Lol :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Emma Nadine! Your Pinterest is so great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Just a few ideas: - leaf rubbings (put the leaf behind the page and rub over the page with the edge of a crayon) - Dry some wildflowers between paper towels under heavy books, then when they are flat and try, use contact paper to seal them into your book - Record rainfall amounts on graph paper during a rainy month, then tape it in. - Plant some carrots outside and measure the height of the stem each day, graph, and tape in. Basically, think of stuff that doesn't require drawing skill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaNadine Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Thanks. I admit I'm a bit of a Pinterest junkie. There's just so many homeschooling ideas out there, and I have absolutely no ability to follow a curriculum as written. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 At that age I did more observing then drawing. Have a goal when you go on a nature hike...look for spider webs, tracks, mushrooms, seeds, red leaves....it gets the child to "look" as you hike instead of racing to the end of the path. MAke 3d "journals" (what I call them). Collect seeds, rocks, feathers, leaves and flowers (pressed in the pages of an old fat book). Make a mobile with the feathers/leaves/ or pressed flowers. Keep a tray with things you find and magnifying glass. Encourage them to find something special to put in the tray. Another idea is to take a picture then paste it in their book and write a label for them to do copy work. As I mentioned, in the early years, the goal is to get them to observe, notice things in nature. By pointing things out, and having them look for a specific thing will get them to start looking and seeing things they would not have. As their writing/drawing skills increase you can add copywork, tracing, and drawing to their books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 I made nature Bingo cards to use with my kids, mainly my 4 year old, but my dd8 loves them too. We use them when we walk through the neighborhood to find different things during different seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2OandE Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 This is a great thread. I'm going to be doing this with my kids this year and I'm very excited about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 We took walks around the area and dd either drew or collected. We used a binder and page protected, thick paper. After she found what she wanted to either draw or have, we pressed it/glued it in/drew it/etc, then I asked her to tell me about it and wrote down what she said. Here's a link to a post on my blog from 2008 or so. I don't think all the pics come thru, but you can probably see the wolf spider one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma_Bear Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 At that age I did more observing then drawing. Have a goal when you go on a nature hike...look for spider webs, tracks, mushrooms, seeds, red leaves....it gets the child to "look" as you hike instead of racing to the end of the path. MAke 3d "journals" (what I call them). Collect seeds, rocks, feathers, leaves and flowers (pressed in the pages of an old fat book). Make a mobile with the feathers/leaves/ or pressed flowers. Keep a tray with things you find and magnifying glass. Encourage them to find something special to put in the tray. Another idea is to take a picture then paste it in their book and write a label for them to do copy work. As I mentioned, in the early years, the goal is to get them to observe, notice things in nature. By pointing things out, and having them look for a specific thing will get them to start looking and seeing things they would not have. As their writing/drawing skills increase you can add copywork, tracing, and drawing to their books. :iagree: That's what we do too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I love the idea of nature journaling, and it is something I want to implement with my son. I've been collecting a lot of ideas on Pinterest if you want to look through them. http://pinterest.com/emmanadine/homeschool-nature-journal/ Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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