FOSTERING A CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH NATURE JOURNALING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

From capturing quick sketches of the environment, to producing a detailed field drawing of an outcrop, illustration can be used in many ways across earth science disciplines. Nature journaling became a popular pastime during the pandemic, and it is a great way to build confidence and comfort with the process of drawing in the field. There are many ways to incorporate scientific content and observations into a nature journal. Drawing can be an intimidating topic, but practice with basic art strategies can help get students (and teachers!) more comfortable with putting pencil to paper. A recent workshop at the NAGT Earth Educator’s Rendezvous delved into the process of incorporating nature journaling into curriculum. We discussed ways to blend reflective writing, field notetaking, data collection, and sketching to enhance student learning, in addition to practicing sketching techniques for all types of natural subjects. No prior art background is required for nature journaling, and it is an approachable tool to help foster connection to the local environment and practice observational skills and inquiry techniques. The goals of the workshop included developing a method for observing and recording the natural world, understanding the fundamental principles and practices of nature journaling and communicating its value to students, developing strategies for incorporating journaling and field sketching as a reflective tool, and becoming part of a network of educators interested in nature journaling. One of the workshop outcomes was to create an informal community to share best practices and brainstorm new ways to incorporate nature journaling into a wide range of disciplines and courses.