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Nature Journaling: How to Get Started

I had never heard of nature jounaling until I came across the idea on Instagram a few years ago. It seemed like a really awesome way to incorporate more science, art, and outdoor time into our homeschool week, so we decided to give it a try, and it quickly become one of our favorite learning activities. Nature journaling is a fantastic way for kids to sharpen their observation skills and to connect with the natural world around them. It's also a really easy way to sneak some extra science into your homeschool.
Tips and ideas for introducing nature journaling into your homeschool days


 So what exactly is a nature journal? A nature journal is a place to record things you observe in nature or thoughts inspired by nature. This can be done in many different ways. You can try sketching or painting things you observe, writing about things you observe, or you could even use your nature journal like a scrapbook and tape or glue in pressed flowers, photos, or other items. Like a personal journal, you can be creative and make your nature journal anything you want it to be.

 Getting Started:
You don't need much to get started nature journaling, just a sketch book and some basic art supplies. We tend to use a lot of colored pencils, pastels, water colors, pencils, and glue.

Get outside in nature. Take a nature walk or hike, or just sit quietly in your yard or at the park. Take notice of the animals and plant life you see and choose something you find beautiful or interesting to record in your journal. You can sketch or paint something you saw. You can write a poem or describe something that you found interesting, whatever you feel inspired to record.

Nature Journaling Ideas:
-Sketch a leaf, flower, animal, or plant.
-Try painting a scene from your nature walk with watercolors.
-Leaf rubbings
-Sketch and label the parts of a plant.
-Write a poem about something you find beautiful.
-Press and dry flowers to tape in your journal.
-Draw or photograph plants and animals you see and try to identify them when you get home.
-Choose an animal like a bird or a squirrel to observe and describe their appearance and behavior.
-Sketch the different life stages of a plant. 
-Go bird watching and sketch a bird that you see.

Watercolor painting of a grebe my 13-year-old spotted on a nature walk, plus some fun facts she learned while researching

Sketch and notes about western diamondback rattlesnakes

Notes about identifying features of lemon balm

My 7-year-old's entry about a dead rat she saw at the wetlands 😆


One of my favorite nature journaling activities we've done this spring was sketching and labeling the different life stages of a dandelion. My girls love dandelions and had asked if the flowers turn into seed heads or if they develop separately. We went outside and found a few dandelions in the various life stages to explore and sketch, and then we did a little research to answer their questions. 

Really nature journaling can be whatever you want to make it. Just give your child the supplies and the opportunity and let them run with it.
What are your favorite ways to study nature?


If you enjoyed this post, check out:

 -Dandelion Investigation

-40 Nature Study Ideas





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  1. kewkewJune 18, 2019 at 6:53 AM

    Something we have never really gotten into is nature journaling; however, you made it sound so simple to accomplish and I like all the different ideas. Thanks for sharing. Your post is one of the featured posts on Littles Learning Link Up this week! I'm so glad for your continued participation!

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