The Charlotte Mason homeschooling system is a profound and effective framework for teaching. It is widely adopted across the world. Many of Mason’s principles parallel current best practices in education. Keeping a nature journal is a part of Mason education. In this workshop, we were joined by Art Middlekauff, a leading thinker in Mason education Read More
Category: Nature Education
Teaching techniques that are useful for outdoor educators and parents exposing children to nature.
Building a bigger, better, bird brain
Why is it hard to remember the plumage, songs, and details of the lives of birds? What if there were simple tricks you could use to help you observe more deeply and remember your experiences more vividly. Join John Muir Laws for an investigation into neuroscience and birding skills. How can you get more out Read More
Using Words in your Nature Journal
Learn strategies to help your students use words more dynamically on their nature journal pages. Edited paragraphs, drop caps, bullets, labels, popcorn words, fonts and styles, color, and more… The Nature Journal Educator’s Forum is a weekly online discussion between parents, home school educators, classroom teaches, program developers, outdoor educators, and informal educators where we Read More
Our favorite prompt’s for Nature Journaling
Join the Nature Journal Educators Forum for a lively discussion. What are your favorite prompts and heuristics for nature journaling or to get your students to think scientifically and creatively? I will get you started: I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of, and words, pictures numbers… Read More
The process of Science with Inference (video)
It is essential for science educators to understand the differences between the “let’s see”, “could it be”, and “let it be”questions. When can you learn from observation, when do you use inference, and what questions are outside of the realm of scientific investigation. Let’s explore these ideas and put them to use in our nature Read More
How to include numbers in your Nature Journal (video)
Join John Muir Laws and Fiona Gillogly for the ultimate quantification tutorial for nature journalers! Learn how to count, measure, find your pace and use biometrics, record angles with a goniometer, time, and estimate. Plus learn how to use the Beaufort wind force scale, percent cover chart, and measure degrees of arc. Also, learn tricks Read More
NJC, Episode 4: Zoom In-Zoom Out
Change your perspective and scale in your nature journal. Zoom in to catch small details, observe and document your observations at life-size, and step back away from what you are observing to take in the big picture. By combining all three levels of observation in your investigation you will see and wonder so much more! Read More
Peer Mentorship and Discourse
Join the Nature Journal Educator’s Forum for a discussion of how to engage groups of students with differing levels of journaling experience, mentorship, and student discussions. Read More
NJC, Episode 3: My Secret Plant
My Secret Plant is a great activity to focus your observations and help you be specific as you record observations in your nature journal. Join John Muir Laws as he describes how to play the game then head outside and try it yourself! About The Nature Journal Connection Video Series In partnership with the Children’s Read More
Equity and Inclusion in Discussion (2 videos)
There are two recordings in this post. In Discourse (part 1), we talk about discourse and discussion as a part of nature education and learning. At the end of the week’s discussion, one of the participants raised how and when we participate in classroom discussions and how to help give all students a voice. We Read More