How to Teach Nature Journaling: Curiosity, Wonder, Attention
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John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. Jack is a scientist, educator, and author, who helps people forge a deeper and more personal connection with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals and understanding science. His work intersects science, art, and mindfulness. Trained as a wildlife biologist and an associate of the California Academy of Sciences, he observes the world with rigorous attention. He looks for mysteries, plays with ideas, and seeks connections in all he sees. Attention, observation, curiosity, and creative thinking are not gifts, but skills that grow with training and deliberate practice. As an educator and author, Jack teaches techniques and supports routines that develop these skills to make them a part of everyday life.
Laws has written and illustrated several books including How to Teach Nature Drawing and Journaling (2020), The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (2016), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker's Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009), all published by Heyday. He is a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his "Naturalists Notebook" column.
"From the beginning of time, we have been connected to nature, but for the first time in history, that connection threatens to be broken for most of an entire generation and perhaps generations to come. In this book and this work, I find hope. Laws and Lygren have created a powerful and practical resource for teachers to help children and adults discover, explore, love, and protect the natural world around them. Nature is magic, and everyone needs it."--Robert Bateman, artist and naturalist
"Engaging students in learning about nature is a compelling need in these turbulent times. Just as important is communicating clearly, precisely, and truthfully. Naturalists and educators John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren help teachers achieve these goals with How to Teach Nature Journaling. This is a wonderful response to educators' request for meaningful ways to implement contemporary standards. The book is useful, full of activities, and manageable for classroom teachers."--Rodger W. Bybee, Executive Director, BSCS Science Learning (Retired)
"Imagine if every teacher taught nature journaling, every student spent enough time outside to fill a journal each year, and our kids were becoming writers, artists, and scientists all at once. I'd send my kid to that school. Thanks to Emilie Lygren and Jack Laws, we now have the vision and the tools to make this our reality."--Craig Strang, Associate Director of Lawrence Hall of Science
"The writing, the illustrations, the demonstration of an intentional, informative, and wonderfully educational approach to nature journal writing--it's all here. From field activities with clear examples to an inquiry-based approach to learning, this book is a gem for educators, first-time journalers, and for the experienced naturalist as well. It's art, it's writing, it's education, it's science, naturally so."--José González, Founder of Latino Outdoors
"Here is a natural way for parents and teachers to integrate the beauty and mystery of nature into the lives of children. The book itself is a work of art."--Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods
"Nature journaling is the single most valuable tool and skill a teacher can possess and use to move the Next Generation Science Standards and environmental literacy forward in their school. You need to do this!"--Rob Wade, Science & Outdoor Education Coordinator, Plumas Unified School District/Plumas County of Education
"This book beautifully demonstrates how nature journaling is a valuable, multidimensional approach to science. Through this work, students build neural pathways that enable different brain regions to communicate with each other, resulting in more flexible thinking and creative problem solving in all areas of life. This approach to nature journaling also offers students an excellent way to learn and practice a growth mindset through nature and science."--Jo Boaler, Professor of Education and Equity, Stanford University; co-founder and faculty director of youcubed.org; and author of several books including Mathematical Mindsets and Limitless Mind
"Charlotte Mason said that 'where science does not teach a child to wonder and admire it has perhaps no educative value.' John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have filled their book with the tools of nature journaling that can help us all get outdoors to wonder at and admire the nature around us. What a gift their book is!"--J. Carroll Smith, EdD, Founder of the Charlotte Mason Institute, Professor of Education (Retired)
"In How to Teach Nature Journaling, educators get best practices for facilitating intentional and inclusive strategies for nature journaling with students. This can spa...
