Nature & Science Journals: You CAN Do This!
By Maggie Hogan
Why? - They’re the ultimate repository for kids’ learning experiences.
What is notebooking? - It is the act of recording and organizing what one is learning in a permanent and attractive way.
Science Notebooks - Develop observation, organization, research skills and much more.
Where to Start - Start simple! Use your upcoming science studies as a guideline as to what type of journal to begin. Or pick a topic that lends itself well to a journal. Take your children’s likes and temperament into consideration.
Physical Notebooks - Diaries and/or Journals. Lapbooks. Three-Ring Binders and Composition books. Video Cases. Scrapbooking. Miniatures. Folders. Envelope journals – dirt, seed pods, leaves, flowers, ticket stubs, dead bugs. . .
Styles of Notebooks - Garden Journals. Travel Journal. Tree Journal. Change of Season Notebook. Field Guides – trees, seashells, rocks. Mad Scientist’s Lab Notebook.
How to Inspire Kids – Stickers. Cameras. Coloring books. Nature magazines. Good TV shows, videos. Field trips. Binoculars. Magnifying glass. Telescope. Microscope. Trips to craft stores. Arts/paper crafts magazines. Art supplies. Rubber stamps. Science reference books. JOY!
Science Journals Across The Curriculum
- Science – Earth science. Biology/life science. Engineering. Geography. Environment. Observation and organizational skills.
- Math – Graphing. Charting. Measurements. Collecting and understanding date. Mapmaking
- Social Studies – Local history. Mapmaking.
Ideas of things that can go into Science Notebooks – Drawings. Labels for drawings. Notations on where the item was found and weather conditions. Clouds. Night sky. Life cycles. Habitats. Science experiments. Nature pressings. Leave/seed samples. Drawings/samples of flower parts. Sketchings of animal tracks. Garden plans. Scripture verses, poems, quotations, etc. Fun forms to fill out. Coloring pages. Magazine cut-outs. Drawings of Lego/block creations. House plans. How things work. Gears. Amusement park rides. Magnets, light, sounds.
Places to explore – City parks. State & national parks. Backyards. Ponds, rivers, lakes, seas. Fields. Forests. Sky. Microscopic world. Zoos. Museums. Auto mechanics shop. Doctor’s office. Airport.
Book Resources
- Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Bjork.
- Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie and Charles E. Roth.
- Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden.
- Wild Days, Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Rackliffe.
- The New How Things Work. DK Science Encyclopedia.
Also, google, click on “images” and then type in the critter of which you would like to see photos and drawings. Awesome resource!
- http://www.howstuffworks.com (middle school & up)
- http://howthingswork.virginia.edu (high school & up)
- http://www.bugbios.com stunning photography!
- http://www.ajkids.com - Ask Jeeves for Kids. Type in your question or look at the question files.
- http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids - so much to see and do!
- http://www.exploratorium.edu - tons of hands on science activities and much, much more!