A gentle way to slow down, observe, and connect with the world outside your door.

How to Start a Nature Journal for Homeschooling Science

There’s something magical about handing a child a blank page and watching them fill it with what they see — a fallen feather, a bumpy rock, or even the way the sky looked just before rain.

Nature journaling is one of our favorite ways to combine quiet observation with creativity and learning. It’s simple, grounding, and best of all — you don’t need a full curriculum to begin.

In our home, Wilderness Wednesdays are all about unstructured exploration, and our Nature Journal comes along for the ride. Whether you have five minutes in the backyard, a full morning in the woods, or, like us, join an outdoor co-op, a nature journal turns any outing into a meaningful lesson.

As this blog series unfolds, I’ll be sharing ways you can build your own nature-based homeschool rhythm— and introducing simple printable mini-books and tools you can use to deepen the experience with each post.

Why Nature Journaling?

• Encourages mindfulness and attention to detail
• Builds observation and drawing skills
• Grows vocabulary and scientific thinking
• Creates a keepsake of seasonal change and outdoor adventures
• Helps even the busiest mama slow down and notice

Our Nature Journal was designed with all of this in mind— giving you a framework while still leaving plenty of room for curiousity to lead.

What You Need to Get Started

You don’t need much to begin — here’s what we like to keep on hand:

• A simple blank sketchbook or our Nature Journal
• Colored pencils or favorite pen
• Clipboard or firm surface to write on outdoors
• Optional: field guide, magnifying glass, binoculars, and a nature bag for collections

Want a ready-made option?

We’ll also be offering our printable Nature Journal starter and themed mini-books for each Wilderness Wednesday activity , making it easy to build your own nature study library.

Getting Started with Kids

1. Set the tone, not the rules.

There’s no “right way” to nature journal. Some days we draw, some days we write a few words, and sometimes we just tape a leaf in our book and call it done.

2. Go outside — even just a little.

Sit on your front steps. Visit a park. Walk to the mailbox and back. The goal is observation, not perfection.

3. Start with a prompt.

Try these to spark curiousity:

• “What do you see, hear, smell, or feel?”
• “Draw something smaller than your hand.”
• “Describe today’s weather in three words.”
• “Sketch the same tree every week and watch it change.”

4. Let kids take the lead.

Trust their curiosity. They might spend 10 minutes drawing the same bug, or quickly scribble and run off to climb a log. It all counts.

Keeping the Rhythm

We aim to journal once a week (usually on Wednesdays) but keep our supplies nearby for spontaneous moments — like spotting a mushroom on a rainy day, chasing a butterfly, or the sudden swoop of a hawk overhead.

Revisit old entries together. You’ll be amazed at how quickly kids’ confidence grow — in drawing, spelling, observation, storytelling, scientific thinking, and simply being present.

Mama Tip:

Start your own journal alongside your kids. It models creativity, gives you a pause in your day, and creates beautiful parallel memories you’ll both treasure.

Want to Go Deeper?

Next week, we’ll dive into Backyard Birdwatching — and I’ll be sharing a printable Mini-Book filled with:

• Easy bird identification tips for beginners.
• Simple backyard birdwatching journal pages.
• Gentle prompts to help kids observe and sketch what they see.

Make sure you’re subscribe and grab your free Nature Journal here— and keep an eye out for the first mini-book release to deepen your Wilderness Wednesdays even more!

Until then, pack a few pencils, grab a snack, and head outside — your next page is waiting.

Did you explore and record something awesome in your nature journal? Let me know in the comments — and don’t forget to tag @healthyhathamama on Instagram if you and your littles spot something sweet this week!🌿