This page goes along with the “Year of Nature Journaling Cards” found here.

Find the card you are using below and click the name of the activity for ideas on mini-lessons and extensions for your nature study.

Every card in this deck has a mini-lesson suggestion to go along with it as well as links to additional resources and materials to help you teach that topic.

The cards can be used as stand-alone nature study, once a week throughout the year and the kids will gain SO MUCH from just observing and recording their observations alone. You can even veer from the cards and just do what captures your attention and imagination once you get the swing of it. Personally, our nature study looks similar to this. Every Thursday we go out to learn and discover together. When a Topic captures their imagination or they need a little inspiration I add a mini-lesson on Wednesdays to spark their curiosity.

If you want a more complete nature study curriculum for the year I invite you to check out hatchingcuriosity.com/naturestudy where you will find links to all my podcast episodes, blog posts, and favorite resources to get you started on your nature study journey. You can then use the activity links (found below) to craft your nature study weekly schedule.

Here you’ll find an outline for a suggested weekly nature study including a weekly nature journal outing to help you with your planning.

Suggested Weekly Schedule for a full Nature Study Year:

Day#1 Do a mini-lesson on a biology or earth science subject suggested in the links below

Day #2 Read a picture (or living) book about the subject

Day #3 Observe an art piece depicting it and do an artist study on that work or practice your drawing skills

Day #4 Complete a nature journal entry looking for examples from your mini-lesson when you go out

Day #5 Research what you have discovered so you can label your drawings in your nature journal.

However, there are many ways to use the nature journal cards for prompts or customize your nature study to suit your family.

Make your own Nature Journal

The cards match perfectly with the nature journals found here. However, you don’t need this nature journal to do the activities. Most of the activities can be done with a plain notebook. Just remember to date your entries and make notes on your location and weather. The cards that mention special pages or sections in your nature journal can easily be made from a blank notebook and the instructions to make those pages are found here or on the individual blog posts below.