Follow along with this video to practice your observation skills.

Based on an activity by BEETLES (beetlesproject.org).

2) Nature Art

Nature art uses objects found in nature to create sculptures or designs. Watch the video to get inspired, and then follow the steps on the handout to make your own nature art.

Find a spot to sit in nature. It could be in your backyard. It could be at a park. It could be inside near a plant, pet, or window. What do you notice?

Watch this video from the Woods’ challenge course. Then use the worksheet to consider how you can apply challenge course ideas at home.

Journal

1) MAKE A TREASURE MAP

Watch this example of how to make a map of nature's treasures with Nautilus and Feather. Then go out and make your own!

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

Ever wanted to interview an animal or other non-human living thing? Here’s how you can.

Based on an activity by BEETLES (beetlesproject.org).

3) Writing Nature Poetry

Here’s a great way to enjoy nature: Sit down somewhere outside, or near a window where you can see the sky or a tree. Spend a few minutes quietly observing. Then write a poem about your experience.

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

When you can be in one place for a while, or visit the same place repeatedly, it’s a great opportunity to observe change over time. Watch the video for some ideas, and then use the worksheet to organize your notes about changes you observe.

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com. Star measuring activity based on BEETLES activity Double Take (beetlesproject.org)

Numbers are a language we can use to talk about the world around us. In this video, Westminster Woods naturalists help you learn and practice four ways of quantifying, or using numbers to describe, nature observations. Use the worksheet to choose one or more quantification methods to practice for yourself!

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

This video is an introduction to using diagrams in your nature journal. Watch the video, then practice using different views by using the Inside Out worksheet.

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

When you’re observing a complex object with repeating shapes, it can feel like too much to try to draw the whole thing. This video will help you learn to draw one part at a time from a repeating pattern, like architects and engineers do when they make blueprints. Create your own nature blueprints using the Nature Blueprints worksheet as a guide!

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

Writing is a tool you can use to help you think and observe! Watch this video to learn some different ways to use writing. Then you can use the worksheet to help you practice using writing to help you record your observations and thoughts.

Based on activity from How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, available at howtoteachnaturejournaling.com.

Join Westminster Woods Teacher Naturalists to explore the intertidal zone - the area between low and high tide at the edge of the ocean. First, watch the tidepooling video. Then use the worksheet to help you explore one of the tidepool creature videos. (You could also use these videos for the Interview an Organism activity.)

Based on BEETLES “Ecosystem Literacies and Exploration Guides” and “Structures and Behaviors” activity (beetlesproject.org).

You can explore a local creek or stream near your neighborhood, or explore Dutch Bill Creek (at Westminster Woods) via videos. The worksheet can guide you in exploring how healthy your creek is. The video explains how to catch small animals that live in creeks. If you want to observe freshwater invertebrates from Dutch Bill Creek, check out the “Mystery Macroinvertebrates” videos.

You can do a lot of nature exploration without a field guide, and using field guides can add to your experience. Follow along to learn how to use field guides to identify organisms.

You can observe birds just about anywhere. Watch the video to learn how to find, observe, and identify birds. Then use the worksheet or your own blank notebook to record your observations about a bird.

Join Westminster Woods naturalists to learn about compost! What is it? How does it happen? How can you start composting? After watching and following along with the video, you can choose which level of composting you want to try!