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Moses Thompson
Feb 1, 2022, 12:11:13 PM2/1/22
to SGSO Network
Does anyone have garden journals they like or has anyone seen any good garden journal resources out there?
-Moses
Tucson AZ
Elaine Makarevich
Feb 1, 2022, 12:13:55 PM2/1/22
to Moses Thompson, SGSO Network
Hi all,
I use a few different journals, depending on the age group/need.
*spiral notebooks work wonderfully for older students - there are some with plastic covers that help when we are watering!
*I have also used the "blue book" inexpensive journals for shorter term journaling.
*younger students - we make our own and use clipboards in the garden to lean on.
Hope this helps!
Elaine
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Elaine Makarevich
Makerspace Program Instructor
Gifted Education Services Coordinator/Instructor
Schoolyard Garden & Greenhouse Coordinator
Stillwater Township Elementary School
Moses Thompson
Feb 1, 2022, 12:16:59 PM2/1/22
to Elaine Makarevich, SGSO Network
Oh shoot I should have been more specific. I'm wondering about garden journal content. I'm thinking observation stuff, SEL stuff, etc. I'd love to have a nice boilerplate journal we could send out with our university interns to use with K-12 students out in the schools.
tamara o'brien
Feb 1, 2022, 12:29:19 PM2/1/22
to Moses Thompson, SGSO Network
I like this for the instructor. It is very handy if one person leaves and another takes over! But also gives you a guide as to what has to happen and where to record. You could copy a few pages for older grades but for younger students to play notebook is fine and they can just journal based on prompts you give them.
I find this is a very valuable resource for garden facilitators!
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Judy Sims
Feb 1, 2022, 2:54:08 PM2/1/22
to Moses Thompson, SGSO Network
Hi, all! Regarding garden journaling or making a garden log booklet, as a classroom teacher (and later, a volunteer garden educator), here's an approach I've enjoyed over the years--linking geometry, fractions, art techniques and plant science. Researched and printed-out material can be included as journal pages, so that the journal becomes a reference and reflective piece of garden activity and completed work. (see attached photos)
I have separate worksheets, reference/information pages, song sheets, poems, and garden journaling with sketches that, when put together, comprise our garden education "across the curriculum" activities.
Each child makes a garden-themed folder (could be laminated) into which these pages (and also sometimes mounted photographs with captions) are collected throughout the school year. Categories emerge, such that at the end of the year each child's pages are organized and, especially for 2nd grade and up, a table of contents is created (which means, once organized, all pages are carefully numbered, as in the upper right corner).
Our pages might include science experiments, songs, field trip reports, garden observations, garden planning, mapping and graphing, composting/vermicomposting experiences, reading a rain gauge, harvesting and sharing the harvest, and so much more!
We made great use of clipboards, especially when working outdoors. Sometimes key words or phrases would be written for kids to see. Other times I would write a report, leaving out key words for a child to "fill in the blank." I wanted the log books to reflect valuable teaching/learning experiences for the child and others who would read through.
So our garden log book, or garden journal, was comprised of many individual pages, mostly lined or plain notebook paper or Xeroxed pages,8 1/2 by 11, but sometimes a "fold out" for larger paper.
Here's one approach I've enjoyed over the years as a classroom teacher for various K-3 grades, adapting to grade level:
1. We observe the garden space and see/plan what is/we'd like to grow. We note what grows in the ground (roots), low to the ground (greens), and tall (sunflowers, corn, pole beans) and vines like pumpkin, cucumber, etc. We note shapes, sizes, colors, textures, etc.
2. Collect and prepare the needed materials, and then demonstrate the following as one approach for making and decorating a garden journal folder:
a. Fold and crease an 18 by 12 inch piece of white construction paper in half (like front and back cover of a book)
b. Hold and "soft pencil" trace around a carefully positioned cardboard rectangular 3 1/2 by 6 inch template in the right upper right side (front cover).
c. Plan and then soft pencil the words in the title box, centering words on several lines: e.g. Elisabeth's Garden Journal, 2021-2022, Grade Three, Adams
Elementary School (open folder to retrace rectangle and all lettering with fine pointed crayons or permanent markers)
(good idea for younger students to stop here, and continue after recess, or next day)
d. With the folder OPEN (unfolded), use soft pencil to make a soil line 2 1/2 to 3 inches up, and all across the bottom 18 inches of the paper.
e. Continuing with soft pencil, draw in garden plants and features, such as a trellis. (Kids can give suggestions as you demonstrate.) Plan use of space so
as to show root crops (like carrots or beets), greens (such as lettuce, celery or broccoli), and tall plants, such as vines on a trellis, sunflowers, corn, or
pole beans. (Note: as all lines will be traced with a solid use of crayons or oil pastels, all lines need to be simple and well spaced, with no tiny, close-
together lines--like the black lines in a young child's coloring book.)
f. All drawn pencil lines are traced with appropriate selected colors, using pointed crayons; for older kids, oil pastels work well and can add more vibrant
colors.
g. Using peeled pieces of crayon, "side crayon" in all soil area, and use various side crayon pieces to fill in large leaves, petals, and especially sky; the
entire 18 by 12 inch folder should have color.
(good if all students complete steps to this point, and then watercolor set-up happens at a separate time for whole class)
h. (optional "crayon resist" art) Add appropriate same color watercolor paint to soil, sky and larger areas of crayoned in color spaces, being careful not to
use too much water (can carefully blot with paper towel, if necessary); let dry overnight on child's desk, or on drying surface in classroom. Once dry,
press student work under large books, etc. to flatten;
i.. laminate each child's garden journal folder cover for year-long use; could mount on another paper prior to laminating, depending on art paper quality.
Happy garden journaling!
Judy Sims
Portland, OR
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Judy Sims
Garden Education Program Development
3631 SW Admiral Street
Portland, OR 97221
Growing Edible Education and Healthy Children
John Fisher
Feb 1, 2022, 11:11:10 PM2/1/22
to Moses Thompson, SGSO Network
Hi Moses,
We share the following resources on our Garden Journal Blog Post
I think you will find what you are looking for!
- John Muir Laws Nature Journaling Curriculum. and his Nature Journal Clubs (looks like there is one in Tucson!)
- Nature Journal tips and More Resources from Life Lab's Gardener Jennifer
- Kids Gardening Pollinator Journal in English and Spanish
Also, I have included scavenger hunts (we link to 13 different types to get ideas) and acrostic poems in journals I used with kids.
Lastly, two of my favorite two journaling activities I have done with my students are:
Deciduous Fruit Tree Observation and Fruit Thinning
Observe a tree over a couple months as the tree transitions from dormancy to fruiting. See observation prompts for small groups of upper elementary aged students to observe a few buds of a marked section of a deciduous fruit tree.
Observation Prompts
See this concept explained in the 90 second section of this video https://youtu.be/-BO74B1O4_c?t=312
Learn about fruit tree thinning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAoU39NM458&list=PLdNOdHei9NV3PPrqRbOFSC8_h5n9iXSJd&index=7
Observe a tree over a couple months as the tree transitions from dormancy to fruiting. See observation prompts for small groups of upper elementary aged students to observe a few buds of a marked section of a deciduous fruit tree.
Observation Prompts
See this concept explained in the 90 second section of this video https://youtu.be/-BO74B1O4_c?t=312
Learn about fruit tree thinning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAoU39NM458&list=PLdNOdHei9NV3PPrqRbOFSC8_h5n9iXSJd&index=7
As part of a Citizen Science project students make daily observations a part of the garden classroom routine. Use your garden or school yard to collect data and share with others collecting similar data for a greater cause. In our garden our students participate in The Great Sunflower Project by conducting 5 minute pollinator observations. We use this Pollinator Count Log to record our data.
-- JOHN
John Fisher - Director of Programs & Partnerships - 831.471.7831 - lifelab.org/john
Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with locations in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, CA
John Fisher - Director of Programs & Partnerships - 831.471.7831 - lifelab.org/john
Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, healthy food, and nature through garden-based education.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with locations in Santa Cruz and Watsonville, CA
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/school-garden-network/CAHpuEhXtEzF%3D0cAQwsm_MKuyz0NO7zWkv31gStN%2BMx85OiCm1w%40mail.gmail.com.
Tamara Helfer
Feb 2, 2022, 9:55:09 AM2/2/22
to Moses Thompson, SGSO Network
Hi Moses,
We made our own, very simple journals (attached). The front inside cover has guiding principles about using your senses, and the next page has the ABCs of scientific drawing (+DE for upper elementary). The rest of the journal has lots of room for sketches and recording observations, with various inspirational quotes and definitions. Every lined page has “What I notice… What I think… What I wonder…” in small font at the top too.
Take care,
Tamara
Moses Thompson
Feb 2, 2022, 10:03:43 AM2/2/22
to Tamara Helfer, SGSO Network
Great stuff Tamara and John, thank you!
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/school-garden-network/CAAXMYK1pfOgHuUuSGGzSNyDCv99vJg_STxbYRtzRf_PC%3D8So6w%40mail.gmail.com.
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