Magic Forest Academy-Nature Journal Prompts

Magic Forest Academy Imaginative, Seasonal, Natural Learning

Nature Journal Prompts

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"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." - William Shakespeare

MAGIC FOREST ACADEMY

Nature Journal Prompts

Keeping a Nature Journal can be a life long activity that returns many benefits. Imagine in your later years looking back on journals of natural history documented from your perspective. Its likely you would be able to show younger generations some of natures finest that is then extinct or endangered, but was once plentiful in your youth. The natural world changes over time and its appreciated by all if there is record to reflect back upon. Instilling the love of keeping a Nature Journal at an early age will also benefit children in many ways. It encourages them to train their eyes for careful observation and opens the doors to asking questions in the spirit of investigation. Because nature can be seen at many angles, a childs Nature Journal will be individual to them and instill a sense of independence. Keeping a Nature Journal also instills a deeper appreciation of our beautiful Earth and atmosphere. The benefits are endless.

"Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important

events in their lives." - Thomas Berry, The Dream of the Earth

"Children learn best through their everyday experiences

with the people they love and trust, and when the learning is fun, and the best place for these experiences is outdoors,

in the natural world" Center for Families ,

Communities , Schools and Children s Learning

"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration- Claude Monet

We have created a listing of 13 different Nature Journal prompts across all four seasons, giving you 52 prompts in all. The prompts are designed

so that you may print them and use in various ways; for example, you could tuck each of the

prompts in to a Journal Jar per season to pull one per week to use as inspiration, or you could cut and paste the prompts to individual pages in a blank journal so its ready to fill with writing,

sketches, paintings, and more. Keep a journal by season or by nature theme. There are many ways

you can use these prompts for inspiration, just use your creativity and imagination!

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Copyright 2014 Magic Forest Academy All rights reserved.

TREES

S P R I N G

a) Find a tree near your home with blossoms or buds. Update your journal with sketches of what the blossoms or buds will grow in to next season. Check your journal when they bloom for accuracy.

b) What types of insects do you see living on or around the tree? c) Update your journal with instructions and diagrams on how to identify

various tree types, and then identify the various trees visible from your home. If you have no trees at home, then flip through magazines and identify at least 5 different trees in pictures.

Can you create a Family Tree in your journal

showing as many generations as you can.

S UMMER

FALL

WINTER

a) Go on a nature hike or public park and update your journal with a drawing of one tree and explain why you picked this tree.

b) Make a list of all types of trees you see in the area. c) Identify the various ways trees are useful and how they are used.

Update your journal with your findings.

Take a photo of your tree

for your journal.

a) Go on a nature hike or visit a nearby park and observe the trees. Are there any berries or fruit on the trees? What kind?

b) Are leaves falling from the trees? What are the leaf colors, sizes and shapes.

c) What types of animals do you see living on or around the tree? What are they doing?

Make a bark rubbing of your tree in your journal

a) Go on a nature hike or visit a nearby park and observe the trees. Mark out a specific area and count how many trees are Deciduous versus Evergreen. How did you tell? Make a drawing of at least one of each type.

b) Are there cones or nuts on the ground? Describe how trees use cones and nuts to continue their lifecycle and draw a diagram of a tree lifecycle in your journal.

c) Select at least 3 trees and identify how old they are, and update your journal with how you calculated the age.

Make a sketch of your tree

for your journal.

Copyright 2014 Magic Forest Academy




a) Go on a nature hike and find a special rock. Update your journal with why

this rock is special to you and make a chart to describe its characteristics; such as its color, size and texture.

b) Test your special rock to see if it is magnetic and update your chart. c) Learn how to identify rock Luster, Hardness and Streak and update your

chart with these characteristics of your special rock. Once you have your chart completed, update it with more rocks you find or have.

Gather, clean and dry some smaller rocks and then paint

designs on them as decoration. Take photos for your journal.

S P R I N G

ROCKS

a) Go outside and find the largest rock you can in the morning. Is it warm or cool? Check the temperature again in the afternoon and document if it is warm or cool. Why do you think the temperature changed?

b) Learn what types of minerals and gemstones are native to your area and update your journal with the list and sketches or pictures, and information on what the minerals are used for.

c) Head outdoors looking for fossils in rocks and update your journal with your findings. If you find no fossils, try a fun craft making your own fossil imprints. Try sketching images of fossils in your journal and labeling what they are fossils of.

S UMMER

See how many rocks you can balance on top of each

other. Take a photo for your journal

FALL Find rocks outside and

arrange them into artwork. Take a photo for your

journal.

WINTER

Play a few games of

Rock, Paper, Scissor and see wins the most.

a) Head outdoors and find a rock to safely turn over. What nature did you

find living beneath the rock? b) Turn another nearby rock over and see if there are different types of

nature living beneath it. Update your journal with your findings and list other creatures that may make their home beneath a rock.

c) Draw an imaginary circular area and count how many rocks you find in the perimeter, including the smaller rocks. Update your journal with your findings. Were you surprised to find so many rocks?

a) Update your journal with the difference between Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic rocks. Include a diagram showing the differences.

b) Head outdoors and try to identify at least 10 different rocks by their category. c) If you were a rock what type would you like to be and why? What if you were

a crystal or mineral?





a) Observe a nearby pond and its surroundings and sketch a diagram in your

nature journal. Include plants and trees surrounding the pond. b) Sketch, or cut pictures out of magazines, of amphibians you spot at the pond,

or that you know are living there but may not have seen. c) Learn the different between a toad and a frog and update your journal with

your findings. Include a sketch of their lifecycle.

Try learning how to identify frog & toad species by their

unique voices.

S P R I N G

AMPHIBIAN/REPTILE

a) Learn about Sea Turtles and their life cycle. Update your journal with your findings with sketches, collages, and/or narrative writing.

b) Learn the difference between Tortoises and Turtles and list them in your journal

c) If you do not have turtles or tortoises readily available for viewing in your backyard or nearby park, try visiting a Nature Center, Pet Store or other organization that rehabilitate them. Update your journal with what you learn. If you have no place to visit you can try viewing a documentary.

S UMMER

Do your part to keep litter out of oceans. Organize a Beach Cleanup or even a Cleanup in

your community.

FALL Research how to make

Lizard Origami or Pony-Bead Lizards and make

them for fun!

WINTER

Read fictional books about snakes for inspiration; such

as, Verdi or Rikki Tikki Tavi, or write your own!

a) Learn where lizards and salamanders live and then look for each on nature hikes documenting your observations, including markings and color patterns on each.

b) Draw and list the differences between Salamanders and Lizards. c) Research and document which species are protected by your local and national

government and why.

a) Learn about snakes native to your area and update your journal with information and also sketch the snakes youve learned about including the markings and color patterns on each.

b) Visit a local pet shop or facility that have snakes on display and ask the snake caretaker questions about the snakes behaviors and diet. Update your journal with what you learn.

c) Research or talk to local farmers to learn how snakes are beneficial and then update your journal with lists or pictures. Write about your trip and explain what your favorite part was.





a) Go on a nature hike or visit your backyard and take photos or sketch

mushrooms you find. Research and label their species and characteristics. Remember not to touch any mushrooms with bare hands since many can be deadly.

b) Try to find at least one Bell shaped cap and one Honeycomb capped mushroom and learn the species for your journal.

c) Document the air temperature and humidity level you found your specimens in, and if you can, take a temperature reading of the ground. Update your journal each season with these details.

Learn how to make Spore

Prints and include a print in your journal.

S P R I N G

MUSHROOMS

a) Go outdoors and measure a large radius circular area and count how many different types of mushrooms you find, documenting your results in your journal. If you find none, find a new location.

b) Head back a few days later to the same area above where you found mushrooms and perform a recount. Update your journal with your findings. Repeat this step several times over the weeks to learn how diverse the mushroom world is and how quickly new ones grow.

c) Try to find at least one Cone shaped cap and Rounded cap mushroom and update your journal with the species of each.

S UMMER

Mushrooms are a form of fungi. Try growing a fungus specimen

safely at home that you can observe beneath a microscope

for comparisons

FALL Flip through several classic

fairy tale books and see if you can spot mushrooms in

the illustrations.

WINTER

Make a dye using mushrooms from the

grocery store and tie-dye an old shirt.

a) Learn how to safely collect mushroom specimens and how to dissect at home. Update your journal with your findings, including what it was growing on, if it was by itself or clustered, and if it has any specific smell.

b) Try to find at least one Convex and one Funnel shaped cap and update your journal with details of each species.

c) Research the parts of a mushroom and sketch a diagram in your journal.

a) Name at least two reasons mushrooms are important to nature and document in your journal.

b) Sketch a picture of a mushroom providing shelter to insects. c) Research the mythologies and stories associated with the Fly Agaric red-

capped mushroom and document your findings.





Set aside a certain time each week to observe birds either outdoors or from a window indoors that you can open to hear the bird song, and update your nature journal:

a) Try to identify at least 5 different types of birds and sketch them in your journal. Use a Bird Field Guide to assist in your sketching since it may be difficult to sketch active birds flittering about.

b) Sketch pictures of bird nests, bird eggs and bird feathers in your journal; either ones you find outdoors or in books and magazines.

c) Research rare birds in your area that you may not see, but that could be living nearby. Sketch their picture and look up what birdcalls they use on the Internet or an App so you can learn to identify them by sound.

Put a Bird Feeder in the area you observe your birds and

place various types of food to attract different species.

S P R I N G

BIRD

Set aside a certain time each week to observe birds either outdoors or indoors at a designated spot and update your nature journal:

a) Keep a tally of how many of each type of bird you spot and update your findings in your journal.

b) Observe a perched bird and sketch it in your journal. Label all the parts of the bird and list the types of food it likes to eat.

c) Observe birds after a good rain and update your journal with any new behaviors you noticed.

S UMMER

Put a Bird Bath near the feeding area and keep it

filled. Birds will appreciate a place to cool off.

FALL Learn how to make a Bird

Call with your hands and practice outdoors.

WINTER

Make edible ornaments for birds that you can

hang outdoors from trees

Set aside a certain time each week to observe birds either outdoors or indoors at a designated spot and update your nature journal: a) Research Birds of Prey in your area and see how many you can spot during

the season. Update your journal with sketches and information about these Birds of Prey including information of the sleep patterns, homes, food, etc.

b) Observe or research migratory birds and update your journal with information you learn. Document each time you witness birds migrating with the date and details you observe.

c) Update your journal with any new types of birds you notice this time of year and any types of behaviors different than Spring or Summer.

Set aside a certain time each week to observe birds either outdoors or indoors at a designated spot and update your nature journal:

a) Write a poem about birds, preferably your own, in your journal. If you copy another persons poem, be sure to write the authors name as well.

b) Look up various types of footprints different birds make and update your journal with pictures or drawings. If it snows, try to observe bird footprints and take photographs for your journal.

c) Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Watch (GBBW) in late winter and update your journal with the results you submitted.





a) Visit or grow a meadow and observe the type of insects you find. Update your

journal with sketches or magazine cutouts of your findings. b) Quietly observe bees in an outdoor garden or meadow. Update your journal

with the various types of bees you can identify, and draw pictures of their favorite types of flowers.

c) Draw an imaginary circle in the ground of a garden or meadow and count how many types of insects hop versus fly versus crawl and update your journal.

Build a Bug Hotel as a great

insect observation spot.

S P R I N G

INSECT

a) Count the various types of moths and butterflies you observe over a week or month and draw pictures of your favorites in your journal. Label the parts.

b) Place a plate of rotten fruit outdoors and observe it periodically to observe the types of insects that frequent the plate. Update your journal with your findings.

c) Sit quietly and listen to the types of sounds the insects make and then make up a poem or song to write in your journal.

S UMMER

Set up a nighttime Moth Viewing area by hanging a white sheet and shining a

flashlight behind it.

FALL Make your own Bug

Viewer with an empty glass jar to help you view insects

up close.

WINTER

Keep a houseplant

indoors that you can observe in late winter for

emerging insects.

a) Find a nearby tree and study all around the trunk, updating your journal with the types of insects you find. Do a comparison study of the types of insects you find crawling around the root area. Update your journal if you notice any differences.

b) Find an interesting spider web with an active spider in it that you can safely observe and update your journal with your findings. Draw the spider and label its parts. Draw a Sheet Web, Orb Web, Funnel Web and Cob Web and circle the one your spider was on.

c) Safely turn over a dead log or dead leaves. Update your journal with the insects you observe and list the types of foods they eat.

a) Research at least 10 types of insects that survive in the winter and update your journal with lists or drawings.

b) Write the definition of Invertebrate in your journal and draw a diagram of one, listing all the parts.

c) Draw a picture of ants nesting underground during the winter and imagine what they might be dreaming about. Draw a dream bubble over the sleeping ants and sketch what you imagined.





a) Research at least 3 types each of a small, medium and large animal that live in

your surrounding area and what their homes might look like. Update your journal with your findings.

b) Go on a nature hike and observe the various animal homes you find. Take photos for your nature journal.

c) Visit a local farm and update your journal with this experience. Document the animals who had babies and write down the proper name that the adults and babies, by gender, are known as.

Create an outdoor Scavenger

Hunt to enjoy when youre out looking for animal tracks.

S P R I N G

ANIMAL

a) Visit a local pond or lake and update your journal with drawings or

photographs of the animals you spotted. Look up their scientific name and write both their scientific and common names next to their picture.

b) Research the difference between Domestic versus Wild animals and update your journal with a list or pictures of each type you spot over the course of a week.

c) Research the types of animals that live in the ocean versus rivers versus mountains and update your journal with their pictures, habits and diet. Visit a beach, river or mountain to learn more and observe the animals if you can.

S UMMER

Visit an animal sanctuary or wildlife center near you to

learn more about local animals and how they are rehabilitated.

FALL Put out a squirrel feeder in

your garden to create a great observation space for

squirrels.

WINTER

Build an indoor den to

hibernate in for fun.

a) Go on a nature hike and closely look for signs of animal life; such as, claw

marks on branches, animal tracks in the mud, broken twigs, emptied nutshells, droppings, and skulls. Update your nature journal with any amazing finds with sketches or photos.

b) Find a natural outdoor area with many trees and observe what the squirrels are doing. Update your journal with what you think their behavior means.

c) Research what bats lives in your area and learn what they eat and how they hibernate. Visit a bat center if you can or read books about bats to learn more. Update your nature journal with your bat knowledge.

a) Draw a picture of your favorite animal in your journal and label the parts.

Write a short story about your animal to include in your journal. b) Create a journal page showing the difference between predators and prey

and document some of the ways prey will protect themselves. Identify if any of these animals are endangered and what that means.

c) Learn more about Hibernation and update your journal with your findings on what animals hibernate, how they hibernate, and why they hibernate.





a) Learn what the various Cloud Formations are properly called and document

them in your journal with drawings and labels. b) Measure the rainfall over the course of a week and document your results. If

you received no rainfall in a week then expand your test to a months timeframe.

c) Learn how rainbows are formed and update your journal.

Repurpose an empty plastic bottle into a Rain

Gage for measuring rainfall.

S P R I N G

WEATHER

a) Learn how lightning is formed and update your journal, including diagrams and instructions for Lightning safety.

b) Visit a local farm and learn how predicting the weather is important and methods they use and then update your journal.

c) Learn about the benefits of sunshine to humans and update your journal, including a list of guidelines for sun safety.

S UMMER

Make paper Pinwheels out of card paper and attach them to

twigs. Place them in your garden for a wind show.

FALL

Fly a kite in an open field or beach on a clear windy day.

WINTER

Cut out paper snowflakes

you can use in your journal.

a) Learn at least 5 different weather terms and update your journal with definitions and sketches.

b) Compare the climate where you live with another city at least 2000 miles away and record the differences.

c) Draw a diagram of the Water Cycle labeling the main processes.

a) Learn the difference between freezing and boiling point and update your

journal. b) Practice making Snowflake Symmetry and update your journal with your best

designs. c) Learn at least 6 different Winter Weather terms and then document how many

of these you can spot during the last winter month. Update your journal with your findings using words and pictures.





a) Find at least 3 different weeds that are also flowers and document if they

are edible or not next to drawings of each. b) Create a small painting of flowers you spot in your garden or a local

meadow. Use a Q-Tip or you fingerprint to create the flowers. c) Glue pressed flowers in your journal and label what each is.

Create your own Flower Press from recycled cardboard and

construction paper.

S P R I N G

FLOWER

a) Learn the difference between Spring and Summer flowers and update your journal with your findings using words and pictures.

b) Learn how flowers are pollinated and update your journal. c) Create a picture of your favorite flower and label all of the parts.

S UMMER

Have a Sunflower Contest by growing several next to each other to see which one

grows the tallest.

FALL Grow or buy a variety of

Fall Flowers and practice your flower arranging skills. Display them in your home!

WINTER

Repurpose old jars or tubes in to pretty vases to display winter flowers. Make the

flowers for paper or tissue!

a) Identify 5-10 flowers that bloom in the Fall and create a drawing or collage of a bouquet that has at least one of each of these flowers.

b) Learn how to say and spell Flower in 6 other languages and update your journal with these new words.

c) Visit a local Florist who is willing to teach you more about flowers and arrangements. Update your journal with your experience.

a) Identify 5 flowers that bloom in the Winter and update your journal with

pictures or drawings of each. b) Learn at least one Flower mythology and update your journal, including which

culture the mythology comes from. c) Update your journal with a listing of the many ways flowers are used in

society today. Use illustrations that can help demonstrate.





a) Go outdoors and safely look at the underside of leaves. Update your

journal with anything you find interesting attached or living beneath the leaves.

b) Learn how leaves get their green color and update your journal. Draw several pictures of leaf types and predict what color their type turns in the Fall.

c) Update your journal with information and drawings about Leaf Margins.

Learn how to make Leaf Skeletons and place some in

your journal.

S P R I N G

LEAF

a) Collect at least 5 different types of leaves and cut them in half lengthwise. Glue one half of each to your journal, and then complete each leaf by drawing the other half. Update your journal with what each type of leaf is.

b) Learn what Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are and update your journal with pictures and information.

c) Update your journal with drawings or pictures of 6 different edible or medicinal leaves, and how they are used.

S UMMER

Make some Leaf Rubbings to include in your journal.

FALL Preserve your leaf

collection by coating them with paraffin wax.

WINTER

Make a wreath of

evergreen leaves to hang indoors.

a) Update your journal with the date that the leaves start changing color, and document any weather patterns you notice.

b) Once the leaves are in their color-changing peak, draw an imaginary circle somewhere outdoors and count how many of each color you find.

c) Learn about the many ways fallen leaves can be beneficial and update your journal with your findings.

a) Collect and dry a variety of leaves remaining in early winter and then paint decorations on them. Hang them up as bunting, and also put a few in your journal.

b) Once all the trees seem barren, head outdoors to identify the few remaining evergreens and update your journal with sketches, as well as what animals may use the leaves for food.

c) Learn how to identify a tree based on characteristics of Leaf Scars on Twigs. Collect several twig samples and try identifying the tree. Update your journal with at least one of your findings, highlighting the Leaf Scars





a) Learn which planets are visible in the Spring night sky and update your

journal with information you learn. b) List important Celestial Events for the Spring in your journal, decorating

your list with doodles related to the events. c) Observe the evening sky for any birds returning from migration and

update your journal with your observations.

Have a slumber party with friends playing traditional nighttime slumber themed

games.

S P R I N G

NIGHT

a) Learn what a Meteor Shower is and update your journal on any such showers to witness in the summer. List dates, times and draw a sketch.

b) Update your journal about the Summer Solstice and what it means in regards to the amount of daylight on this day. Learn about ancient landmarks built around this celestial event.

c) Learn more about Sunrise and Sunset and update a journal page with both events showing how they may appear.

S UMMER

Go camping and enjoy the experience of nature sounds

at nighttime.

FALL Create lanterns out of empty

tin cans or glass jars and go on a Lantern Walk with

your friends.

WINTER

Create a Dream Journal and update it with your

dreams that you remember.

a) Learn about the Plough, Cassiopeia and Perseus and Pegasus constellations and update your journal. Include any experiences you have finding these constellations in the night sky.

b) After the sun goes down, use a flashlight or lantern to create shadows on the wall. Update your journal with the concept of shadowing and any shadows you created.

c) Learn about nocturnal animals and update your journal with sketches of each animal, labeling each one and highlighting some of their behaviors.

a) Learn about the Moon Phases and update your journal showing each phase pictorially.

b) Learn what ancient peoples named each months moon and update your journal with the moon names.

c) Learn about all of the planets in our Solar System and update your journal with pictures and information.





a) Collect dried seeds in early spring from flowers to grow again later.

Place a collection of one of each seed in your journal and sketch the flower or plant it would grow in to.

b) Grow a seed in an observation container and document the phases of growth using sketches and labels until it is fully grown.

c) Tape or glue the back of one seed packet in your journal. Label and describe what each section of the packet means.

Create empty seed packets to take with you so you can safely store any seeds you

find.

S P R I N G

SEED

a) Grow a Sunflower and harvest the seeds when its ready to harvest. Update your journal weekly showing the flowers growing progress and with how many seeds you harvest from it.

b) Identify at least 10 edible seeds with their name and a photo. Highlight the nutritional value of the seeds and where they are commonly grown.

c) Put a variety of seeds out on a plate for birds and record each day which seeds were mostly eaten. Try to determine which types of birds are eating the particular seeds. Add a new variety of seed to the mix to see if its more popular than the others. Update your journal with your experiment results.

S UMMER

Place a handful of Bird Seed in a growing container

and water it to see what grows.

FALL Look for Helicopter Seeds

when youre outdoors and play racing games with pairs to see

which lands on the ground first.

WINTER

Create ornaments using

cones and acorns to hang indoors.

a) Learn the various methods of Seed Dispersal and update our journal with pictures and explanations of each method.

b) Create a pictorial Seed Type chart showing pod, bur, nut, acorn, and hairy, and then add 4 more types.

c) Learn how to roast Pumpkin Seeds and update your journal with a recipe. Include the nutritional value.

a) Go on a nature hike observing the various cones in trees and on the

ground. Update your journal with sketches and how cones produce seeds. b) Learn about how the Kokopelli myth is related to Heirloom Seeds, Spring

and Winter and update your journal with your discovery, including a drawing of Kokopelli and his seed sack.

c) Make a Winter Squash Stew and save the seeds from each type of squash you use. Dry the seeds and dye them using food coloring. Create a





a) Find out what fruits and vegetables are local and seasonal to you and update your journal with your list, showing which months they grow.

b) Learn how plants absorb water using cabbage leaves soaked in colored water. Update your journal with your experiment results.

c) Regrow lettuce by placing the stump in a bowl of shallow water placed in sunlight.

Make Garden Markers by painting small stones with

acrylic paint.

S P R I N G

FRUIT/VEGETABLE

a) In early summer begin growing a Bean Teepee in your garden and update your journal with the architectural design and growing process. Take photos to show your progress in your journal.

b) Learn about Companion Planting and update your journal with a sketch of a vegetable garden you can grow using companion planting.

c) Learn more about herbs and which ones are best to pair up with certain vegetables. Update your journal with this information and add a recipe of a vegetable/herb pairing you have tried and liked.

S UMMER

Grow a small windowsill Herb garden

FALL Slice an apple in half and

study the stars inside. Make apple prints on fabric or

paper.

WINTER

Practice your cooking skills by making a winter

vegetable stew.

a) Research vegetables that are really Fruits and update your journal.

b) Find a Pick Your Own farm and pick the fruits in season. Update your journal with your experience.

c) Pick or buy blue and red berries and natural dye a piece of light clothing using berry dye. Look up recipes for natural dyes from berries. Update your journal with photos of your creation and with the dye recipe.

a) Learn which fruits are best to eat all winter and why its important to your health. Update your journal with your findings, and sketch a picture of your favorite fruits.

b) Take a nature hike and identify berry fruits blooming in winter that wildlife depend on.

c) Make a Winter Vegetable Stew using winter root vegetables and update your journal with the recipe and also the difference between root vegetables and tubers.





Documents

Magic Forest Academy-Nature Journal Prompts