Here’s a very cool, but also quite easy project that I learned about in my twins’ homeschool science class at the local nature preserve last year. I was cleaning off a much neglected bookshelf this weekend when I came across the materials we used to make several of these journals. That reminded me that I’ve been meaning to blog about these and post the instructions:

You’ll need the materials I’ve pictured above: 1 stick, 1 rubber band, and a small stack of paper for each journal. You should plan to use a sheet of stiff paper or card stock for the cover, to add durability. Feel free to use colored paper for any or all of the pages.

Begin by stacking your paper up, with the cover sheet on top. Fold the paper in half, to form a booklet. Then, use scissors to cut 2 small notches in the spine of the booklet. These notches will allow you to attach the stick to the spine with a rubber band.

Hook the rubber band over one end of the stick, and then push the free end of the rubber band through the notch in the spine.

Stretch that end of the rubber band down across the middle of the inside of the booklet, and push it back through the lower notch. You can then hook it around the bottom end of the stick, like so:

That’s all there is to it! You now have very naturey nature journals that your children can decorate and use any way that they want.

Bonus: Ideas for using these nature journals in Winter

Now that you are all set, here are a few suggestions for using these (or any other) nature journals in wintertime.

• If the weather permits, bundle up and get some fresh air. Try to figure out where animals might be living, or how they are finding food and water in winter. Make notes in your journal.
• Use one or more pages in your journal to make bark rubbings. Hold the page over the bark of a tree, and rub with the side of an unwrapped crayon. (You can do this before assembly, if it will be easier.)
• Observe what birds are still hanging around this time of year. Draw or write some in your journal. Remember, the Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up February 15-18, and you can use your journal to help keep notes.
• If weather is too extreme to get outside, you can use binoculars to observe birds at a feeder or birdbath in your backyard.
• You children can also use the journals to make their own books about nature or science concepts that you are studying. Not only is this a great way to document what you are learning, but they are useful for review as well, especially when the kids show the finished projects to friends and relatives.

Enjoy! And let me know of any other uses you come up with!

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