Nature Journaling for Science Education

General Description:

Keeping a nature journal is a powerful tool to help children and adults observe carefully and remember what they see. Many children are uncomfortable drawing because they do not consider themselves to be artists. Directed journal activities relieve the pressure of needing to make pretty pictures and help focus student¹s observations. In this class we will explore the lakes basin area, making nature discoveries while learning journaling activities for use with children, illustration techniques (incorporating art, science, and language arts), and tricks for managing groups of children in the outdoors. This class is appropriate for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, and home school parents.

Class Schedule

Plan to arrive at the Sierra Nevada Field Campus on Sunday, July 25. We will get acquainted that evening, but the class will begin at 8:00 AM on Monday, June 26.

Supplies and Other Useful Items

Supplies and Useful Items

Drawing Supplies

Journal/Sketchbook: Hardcover sketchbooks with sewn in bindings will protect your work and stands up to field conditions. You may need to reinforce the binding with duct tape as the book gets older. I avoid the spiral bound books because the pages are able to rub against each other and smear your pencil work. My favorite is the Canson Basic Sketch Book 8.5" X11". It is acid free with 65 lb. paper and cost around $8.00. It has a hard black cover and sewn in pages. The paper has decent texture for pencil work and will accept a little watercolor (although you will have to live with some buckling of the paper and will not be able to do much lifting out). There are other brands of look alike sketchbooks but the smoother, whiter paper will immediately absorb watercolor, making it difficult to make a decent wash and the color bleeds through to the next page.
0.5 mm mechanical pencil
Col-Erase non-photo blue pencil for lightly sketching in guidelines or a preliminary sketch over which you can draw with a heavier graphite pencil.
Soft white plastic eraser such as "Pentel Clic Eraser"
Colored Pencils: If you like colored pencils, select your favorite colors including light gray and several muted browns and greens. Bundle earth tones, cool purples and blues, and warm yellows and reds separately with rubber bands. You may also be interested to try watercolor pencils. Personally I have a lot of trouble with these because the colors change when you add the water but some people like them. The Prismacolor Verithin 36 color set is a good starter. Sharpen your pencils at home before you leave!
pencil sharpener
protective pencil case
A handy portable bag or soft case to hold all your sketching supplies that fits neatly into your backpack or (ideally) over your shoulder with a strap.

Optional Equipment

binoculars
spotting scope (optional I recommend the Konus Konuspot-80 20-60x80mm. It is a great scope for a low low price. Scope City in San Francisco is a good place to get optics like this.)
hand lens or small magnifying glass
field guides
headlamp
camera (digital?)
lightweight stool or sitting pad

Camping gear

warm sleeping bag
foam pad
flashlight
bring your own tent or use tents with beds provided at the field campus

Clothing

Days are warm, even hot, while evenings are quite cold (close to freezing). Clothing that can be layered for variable weather conditions is best. T-shirts and shorts are often perfect during the day, with a wind jacket or raincoat as backup. Long pants, warmer shirts and sweaters with a coat are necessary in the evening. Comfortable shoes, sun hat, wool hat and gloves are important.

Miscellaneous:

day pack
sunscreen
insect repellant
alarm clock
water bottles