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Make a Nature Journal

© Mary M. Alward

There are so many ways to enjoy nature. I often take Brandon and Jordan hiking along the canal that is not far from where we live. There, we see birds, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks, geese and other species of wildlife. Maybe you would prefer bird watching or planting flowers. There are so many choices.

It's always nice to be able to look back and enjoy a special moment. We do that by remembering. Another way to relive those nature moments is by making a nature journal.

What you will need:

pens

pencils

crayons, coloured pencils or markers

a notebook and a few extra pieces of paper

your senses - sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste

your imagination

What to do:

Pick a special place to explore. This could be a a wildlife area near your home, a park, or even your own backyard. Be sure to make it somewhere you can visit often.

Sit under a tree.

Close your eyes.

What did you hear?

Record the location, date, time and your observations in your journal.

What did you smell?

Record what the weather was like at the time, (after a rain, sunny, cloudy etc.) and the approximate temperature.

Now, sit with your eyes open.

What did you see?

Record your observations.

In a separate page in your journal, draw a picture of what you saw and colour it with the crayons or markers. Label your pictures.

Use one of the extra pieces of paper to make leaf and bark rubbings. Compare these to pictures in a field guide. These can be found at local and school libraries. Can you identify your rubbings?

Go back to the same spot at different times of the day and when weather conditions are different.

Record your observations. Did you hear, see and smell different things, or were they the same?

Years later, even when you have kids, you will be able to go back and relive those special moments through the observations you make in your journal.

Have fun, but remember - always tell an adult where you're going. Ask them to join you, or take a friend along. There's safety in numbers.

Author's Note:

If you would rather garden, make a gardening journal instead. It is also lots of fun and you can draw some fantastic flowers and plants.

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Title: My Nature Journal

Author:Adrienne Olstead
Illustrator:N/A
Publisher:Pajaro
ISBN:0967245915
Ages: 9 to 12
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This book is a great keepsake and is specifically designed to help you learn to enjoy the beauty of nature. Interactive activities stimulate creativity, while you have lots of fun.

The copyright of the article Make a Nature Journal in Canada for Kids is owned by Mary M. Alward. Permission to republish Make a Nature Journal in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.