A nature journal is a personal record where students document outdoor observations through sketches, written notes, and collected specimens, serving as both artistic expression and scientific practice in Charlotte Mason education.
What is a Nature Journal?
A nature journal (also called a nature notebook or nature diary) is a personal book where students record observations of the natural world through writing, drawing, and sometimes photographs or pressed specimens. Charlotte Mason incorporated nature journaling as part of her educational philosophy, connecting it with nature study walks and scientific observation. The practice builds attention to detail, artistic skill, and scientific thinking simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
- Combines artistic sketching with scientific observation
- Requires only basic supplies: blank notebook, pencils, colored pencils
- No artistic skill required - accuracy matters more than beauty
- Young children can participate with parent help for writing
- John Muir Laws' curriculum available free at wildwonder.org/teach
Essential Supplies
Essential Supplies
- Blank or unlined notebook
Bound journals work better than loose pages for permanence
- Pencils
Primary tool for sketching and writing observations
- Colored pencils or watercolors
Optional for adding color to sketches
- Magnifying glass
Helpful for examining small specimens closely
- Field guides
For identification when back home
The 'I Notice, I Wonder' Method
Naturalist John Muir Laws developed a simple framework perfect for beginners. Start with 'I notice...' statements recording specific observations: colors, shapes, sizes, textures, movements, sounds. Then add 'I wonder...' questions about what you're seeing: Why does this plant grow here? What does this bird eat? Finally, 'It reminds me of...' connects new observations to prior knowledge. This structure gives children language for their observations without requiring artistic confidence.
Starting with Young Children
Young children can participate in nature journaling before they can write or draw accurately. Parents record dictated observations while children attempt simple sketches. Tape actual specimens like leaves or petals into the journal. Charlotte Mason noted that photographs can substitute for drawings when children resist sketching. The goal is cultivating attention to nature, not producing artwork. Verbal discussion of observations counts as nature journaling even without writing.
The Bottom Line
Nature journaling trains observation skills that transfer to all learning. The practice costs almost nothing, requires no curriculum purchase, and can start immediately in your backyard. Charlotte Mason emphasized that children should develop personal relationships with nature through direct experience. A nature journal becomes the record of that relationship, documenting growth over years of observation. Many homeschool parents find their own attention to nature awakening as they journal alongside their children.
