Reuniting Children w/ Nature - Nature Journals

This activity is the first in a series of low cost, hands on activities that can be used by anyone who has a passion for nature and who believes that a child's time spent in nature is not only important, but necessary.  Each activity was either created by me or gathered from a variety of sources.  

MATERIALS:

Recycled paper, cardboard, cardstock or any other thick paper for the cover, regular printer paper for journaling (10 sheets is a good start), a stapler, crayons, markers, stickers, or anything else you like to decorate your cover with, scissors

TIME FRAME:

30 - 60 minutes

PROCEDURE:

1) If your cover paper is larger much larger than the paper you will use for your journaling, carefully cut it down so it is about an inch larger on all sides

2) Fold your cover paper in half

3) Fold your printer paper in half and stick it into your cover

4) Carefully staple your cover to your filler paper to bind it together

5) Decorate, decorate, decorate!

REFLECTION:

What type of cover did you choose for your journal?  How did you decorate it and why?  When will you first use your nature journal?

TIPS & IMAGININGS:

- If you make your  journal a size that is easily transportable, you can take your journal and a writing utensils out with you each time you spend time in  nature.
- Write down or draw what you see, what you smell, what you hear, what you imagine…the possibilities are endless!

CONNECTIONS:

Journals are not only a fun way of keeping track of your experiences, but they can also hold important reminders of the observations you make while spending time in nature.  A few weeks, months r years form now, you might not remember all of the wonderful creatures and plants you’ve observed, but your words and pictures will happily remind you!

It is well known that children have an innate connection to the earth and all of its creatures.  They long to be out in nature, to get their hands dirty, explore and use their imagination.  They know that the earth is ours to take care of, without being told.  They find great joy in watching a lizard run across the steps ahead of them or in seeing a deer munching on the trees.  They love to sow seeds, pull weeds and eat kale.  Children thrive when given the  opportunity to build a Fairy House out of natural materials or hide among the bushes or hang on the branches of a tree.

It is true that nature is dirty, it holds a lot of uncertainties and it is unfamiliar to our urban senses.  It is not, however, something to fear.  One step at a time, we can reestablish our relationship with Nature and in doing so, heal ourselves and our environment. What we should we afraid of is what might happen if we don’t heal our broken relationship with nature.

Whatever it is you're doing today, I hope you're enjoying yourself!

xoxo,

M