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Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
Nature Journaling Fall 2021
INSTRUCTOR: Diane Helbley
CONTACT INFORMATION: phone: 269-240-3959 email: diane.helbley@gmail.com
LOCATION: Andrews University Campus, Berrien Springs (note this changed 7/30)
FORMAT: IN-PERSON
GRADE OR AGE LEVELS: Grades 2-8
Additional registration at the location is not required.
Nature Journaling
Thursdays, 1-3pm
Description: Have you ever noticed that dandelion flowers look like they have scissor handles in them? Have you ever noticed just how fluffy and soft milkweed seeds are? Have you ever looked closely at a frog, spider, or bird and watched how they behave for a while?
In this class, we will stop and not only smell the roses, but look closely at whatever we can find and then journal about them. We will sketch what we observe, make notes, and ask questions. Nature journaling helps us to focus our attention and remember what we have seen and what we thought when we saw it. The class touches on art, botany, ornithology, entomology, ecology, measurement, and comparison/contrast.
As John Muir Laws states: “Nature Journaling will enrich your experiences and develop observation, curiosity, gratitude, reverence, memory, and the skills of a naturalist. It helps you discover, think, remember, and integrate new information with your existing knowledge. Train your mind, and the world will offer you its secrets of wonder and beauty.”
Each student will need:
- A sketchbook/journal in which to journal their finds. They should choose one that is at least 4”x6” and no larger than 8 ½ ”x11”. It should be blank and able to open flat. One that opens to the side rather than from the top is preferable. A hard cover is helpful when drawing out in nature, but not required.
- A pencil and eraser.
- Colored pencils.
- A bag or backpack to hold supplies.
Optional supplies:
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Plant and/or bird identification books.
Parents/guardians are required to stay nearby in case a child needs to use the restroom. Dress for the weather. We’ll be sitting on the ground, so dress accordingly.
Syllabus
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst
CONTACT INFORMATION: phone: 269-240-3959 email: diane.helbley@gmail.com
LOCATION: Andrews University Campus, Berrien Springs (note this changed 7/30)
FORMAT: IN-PERSON
GRADE OR AGE LEVELS: Grades 2-8
Additional registration at the location is not required.
Nature Journaling
Thursdays, 1-3pm
Description: Have you ever noticed that dandelion flowers look like they have scissor handles in them? Have you ever noticed just how fluffy and soft milkweed seeds are? Have you ever looked closely at a frog, spider, or bird and watched how they behave for a while?
In this class, we will stop and not only smell the roses, but look closely at whatever we can find and then journal about them. We will sketch what we observe, make notes, and ask questions. Nature journaling helps us to focus our attention and remember what we have seen and what we thought when we saw it. The class touches on art, botany, ornithology, entomology, ecology, measurement, and comparison/contrast.
As John Muir Laws states: “Nature Journaling will enrich your experiences and develop observation, curiosity, gratitude, reverence, memory, and the skills of a naturalist. It helps you discover, think, remember, and integrate new information with your existing knowledge. Train your mind, and the world will offer you its secrets of wonder and beauty.”
Each student will need:
- A sketchbook/journal in which to journal their finds. They should choose one that is at least 4”x6” and no larger than 8 ½ ”x11”. It should be blank and able to open flat. One that opens to the side rather than from the top is preferable. A hard cover is helpful when drawing out in nature, but not required.
- A pencil and eraser.
- Colored pencils.
- A bag or backpack to hold supplies.
Optional supplies:
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Plant and/or bird identification books.
Parents/guardians are required to stay nearby in case a child needs to use the restroom. Dress for the weather. We’ll be sitting on the ground, so dress accordingly.
Syllabus
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst
