With spring here and summer fast approaching, making a nature notebook is a great project to work on. Kids get to explore nature in a fun way. It is a great opportunity to sneak in teaching during the summer months without the kids ever realizing it. Making one is very easy to do. You can use any kind of notebook, sketchbooks usually works best. Composition books make quick & cheap notebooks, you can even bind white cardstock together.
I prefer to use the Black Large Spiral bound Sketchbook
Once you have your notebook, it is time to start filling it. Kids really enjoy exploring to find items to put into their notebook.
Places to explore ~
- Backyard
- Frontyard
- Go on a walk around the block
- Parks/Playgrounds
- Woods
- Beaches
- School Playground
- Take on Vacation
Things to include in notebook ~
- Drawings/Sketches of observations
- Notes about observations
- Leaves/Grass
- Pressed flowers
- Leaf rubbings
If your child has trouble getting started, start out by going for a walk. Take the notebook and a pencil. You can later add more to the pages. Start talking about nature, things that you see. Start asking questions, get their thinking going. If possible, sit down and have your child draw a picture of what they see.
There are so many possibilities with this project, and one of the best parts is it is ongoing. You can fill up one notebook, and start another. It is fun to pull it out and record what you see in the winter months as well. Start to discover the differences of our 4 seasons.
Another thing you can do is take photographs. Either include the photographs in your nature journals, or make a digital nature notebook with pictures only.
Let’s Talk ~ Have you ever made a nature notebook for yourself or with your children? Do you know a great location to visit or something to look for to include in your notebook?
More From Crystal
What a great idea. Thanks.
I love this idea. We are always exploring nature and taking pictures, but it would be great to consolidate the things we see, leaf rubbings, etc all together.
That would be great to do this summer. There is so much to look at, but you don’t see it unless you really look at it.