Nature drawing has become a staple activity in many home-schools. Many families are enjoying the delights of learning about nature and discovering the intricacies of God's world as they do so. Although it is a practice advocated by Charlotte Mason, it is most certainly not restricted to followers of her curriculum. If you have never tried drawing nature, I hope to help you to see its value and encourage you to have a go.
I personally am indebted to my mother, who every time we visited our caravan, when I was around ages 6 to 9, took me out hunting for mushrooms. We took them back to the caravan and sat at the table with our pencils and paints and drew. I still have my book of drawings and the happy memories to go with them. I continue, to this day, to have a 'soft spot' for mushrooms! A brief history...
The benefit of journaling is not limited to what you produce on the page; it is, rather, found in your experience and how you think along the way.
John Muir Laws
In the days before cameras, drawing was the only means of accurately recording what something looked like, in order to have a record of the past. Great care was taken to ensure accuracy. Children were diligently taught how to draw and teachers were expected to be able to draw as a matter of course. The drawings had a purpose: they were a means of recording what had been seen. Plants or animals that move, fade and die cannot be brought out and looked at at will. However a drawing provides a permanent memoir of what has been observed. As such, drawing was, in days gone by, a serious matter, best not left to chance. Strange to say, the teaching of the art of drawing in science lessons disappeared from the curriculum as fast as evolution came in - around the same time that the reproducing of images became sophisticated enough to enable easy use - all around the 20's to 30's. Teachers must have been glad when they were relinquished from the neccessity of extracting drawings from their pupils: so much time could be saved by handing out a ready drawn picture. Little did they think of the long-term consequences. We now have generations of adults who have no real knowledge of the natural world. You see - drawing was not just an art in itself - it was a vehicle for learning. It develops observational skills like no other method can. It was a vital skill - and still is - though few recognise it as such. So much can be expressed through a drawing that many words would fail to communicate. That method of learning has now been mainly lost - but it need not be that way! We can play our part in encouraging the next generation to begin looking, and to begin learning, so that they can play their part in being good stewards of God's creation.
Why draw when we can just take a photo?
When we take up a pencil to draw, we learn to look: to look very carefully and closely.
We learn in short, to pay attention to detail.
A good question - especially when for most of us, our drawing (at least to start with) will not begin to compare with a photo! It all goes back to what we said in the last paragraph: nature drawing is not concerned with purely producing an accurate drawing, but is rather about learning to observe closely. When I take a photo of, say a flower, a quick snap and I'm done - but I have learnt very little about the flower. In contrast, as I pick up my pencil I have to start noticing how, for example, the petals are arranged and how the leaves join the stem. I look once, I look again..and again and again and as I look, I learn, in a way that I wouldn't by taking a photo. More over - by studying my subject this closely I will notice things about it I had not noticed before. I am more likely to appreciate its beauty and the skill that went into its design. In short, I will be brought face to face with the Creator. It is also the best way to learn the skills of a naturalist.
Should we not teach art?
The drawing of nature is not an Art lesson, albeit many learn to draw this way. In schools, Art has now become an academic subject, with the aim of turning out artists. Many are put off when they are deemed not to be 'artistic', but this is misguided. Drawing is a means of self-expression, which young children engage in happily. However, once the child begins to think that 'there is a right and wrong way to draw', then many give up thinking 'I can't draw!'. This is very sad! Let us not let this happen in our home-schools. Let us view nature drawing, rather as a tool - yes for self-expression, but also for learning. Let the process be more important than the end product. Let our children learn that their efforts at looking will be rewarded - rather than their attempts at drawing. And, in the process - each child will find that his/her ability to draw increases: not all will be proteges, but all can enjoy the act of drawing and benefit from it.
You may, of course, have art lessons at other times to your nature journalling sessions, but nature journalling is best seen as a pursuit rather than academic study. It should be enjoyable. Anna Botsford Comstock stresses that any child who does not want to draw, should be given another activity to do, for fear of turning the child off of nature - which would be far more disastrous than the child not producing a neat drawing. Art lessons however can be given to all - however I would still want the child to enjoy the work - as art will not be a serious occupation for most, but can afford many pleasurable, relaxing moments, both in childhood and adulthood, from which I would not wish any child to be excluded. Keeping a nature journal
At the core of all science are insatiable curiosity and deep observation, qualities that lead to the best kind of learning: learning motivated by your intrinsic wonder, hunger to understand, and an ability to observe.
'I draw and work in my nature journal for three reasons: to see, to remember and to stimulate curiosity.' John Muir Laws
Many drawers of nature keep their work in a nature journal. A nature journal is simply a means of recording, either through drawing, writing or a combination of both. John Muir Laws says that journaling helps you to slow down and 'look long enough to record..' It gives you a means of recording your observations. It also helps you to become more curious and a keen observer. It can be very enjoyable as well as teaching you much.
Note how John Muir Laws does not suggest that the journal helps you 'to learn to draw.' It is not the primary reason - though it may well be a by-product as it is true that learning to draw is mostly down to learning to look. Who can keep a nature journal?
In theory - anyone who can hold a pencil and make some marks! Remember - we are not looking for artistic prowess! In practice, very young children can occasionally be encouraged to draw, but their concentration levels will be very short, so pressure should not be put upon them to sit still for longer than they are willing. Some will be prepared to write, others just a quick sketch, but remember that learning the art of observation is more important than drawing and writing - they can come later on in life. Younger children should be encouraged primarily to enjoy nature and observe. They might be helped to keep a simple Nature Diary, in which short records are made of simple observations. The parent will need to be ready to suggest ideas for the diary, as it is the rare child of this age that will initiate such an activity and who will look carefully enough of their own volition. At this age, as with most, the child will enjoy the attention of the adult as they learn about nature together and this is valuable too - shared moments of pleasure. I can also testify that such moments afford great moments of relaxation to the tired mother of young children, brief though they be!
A simple nature diary for ages 5 to 8
Children aged 8 and up should benefit most from keeping a journal. This is not a writing lesson, nor a drawing one. It is a 'looking' lesson with the drawing serving the purpose of recording what has been seen. So to this end, don't try and correct the child's spelling, or suggest better ways to draw. Let the child's nature journal be a personal book, one that you have to earn the priviledge to view, by not offering any kind of criticsim, even if the drawing is unrecognisable and the writing full of spellings! These things can be dealt with in the English and Art lessons. Instead focus on how well the child has recorded observations: 'Well done, I see you noticed the direction of the veins on your leaf." You can encourage the child to tell you what s/he has observed, as well. Remmeber - the main aim is to enjoy the drawing, as a means to learning - rather than to pass a drawing test!
Older children may become quite sophisticated in their drawings and indeed, as nature study is science, their drawings may well help them in their studies of Biology. This then gives purpose to older children and acts as a stimulus to continue their recording long after they may be tempted to stop. Drawing from memory
There is one thing that you will find hard and that is, coping with subjects that will not sit still long enough for you to draw them. I gather that the way to cope with this is to spend ones time observing the subjects carefully, in their habitat, without a pencil in your hand. Then, draw from memory. Try it and see! You will find that this practice really forces you to look and take note: to get a picture impression in your mind. Of course, after drawing from memory, you will find there are so many things you wished you had looked at more carefully: How did the tail join the body? How did that leaf join the stem? Were they all the same? The beauty of this, is that it slowly trains you to try and take more notice while you are observing - to soak in as much detail as you possibly can.
Children, can be taught to draw from memory, alongside sessions drawing with an object in front of them. The key thing is to look not for a 'gift' in drawing, but evidence of careful looking. It can be made into a kind of game too: "I'll show you this object for 2 minutes, then I will hide it and you have to tell me what you remember seeing." Take turns to be the observer and the shower. How can I teach nature - I know very little myself!
Take heart - it doesn't matter. The best teachers are learners too! Be prepared at first to lead the way - arrange opportunities, provide equipment and be enthusiastic. Be prepared to let your child see that you struggle to draw too. Model asking questions about what you see. Model the process of looking. Show your child that it's all about looking, and delighting in what you learn as you look. At the end of the day, don't forget to thank God for the marvels of His creation that you have learnt as you gather for family worship. Let the child tell father all about the day's adventures, and then you can all pray and praise God with heart-felt gratitude.
Do I need expensive equipment to draw nature?
Not really - it can be as expensive or cheap as you like. It's nice to have a hard back book of sketch paper, but not essential. It's nice if you have sketch pencils - though to start with you will only need one or two and an ordinary writing pencil will get you started, along with a pencil sharpener and a rubber which I always carry with me. A small book is easy to carry. Think of ease of use and portability. Coloured pencils are the easiest for children to use in the field. If you really want to splash out, then I can highly reccommend Derwent's Inktense pencils that can be used as colouring pencils and then carefuly painted over to produce watercolour pictures - but in vibrant colours and not the washed out effect of watercolours. A pack of 12 is more than enough for a beginner - but I would suggest not before age 12.
These are great to keep in your rucksack and pull out quickly. You can always stick your pictures into a more fancy book back at home.
I very much reccommend John Muir Laws book for those interested in finding out more, or developing their own skills further. They are written for adults, but if adults are learners too, then their enthusiasm can be caught by the younger members of the family! I am learning to look, but John makes the process of learning to draw so much easier! His FREE 'Nature Journaling curriculum' is for home-educators too! There is much useful, free, information on his website, though many of the subjects are American.
May you give your child a lasting legacy of happy times learning about creation. Happy drawing and may our God have all the praise!
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Nature diaries are a well established feature of nature study with adults and older children, but what about using nature diaries for young children who cannot write or draw so well?
Can it be done successfully? The answer is yes and we show you how! We start by showing you how to help your child to make his/her own nature diary and then how to use it.
Make your own nature notebook.
Although it is easy to buy such things, the making of his/her own nature diary by a child is a worthwhile exercise in diligence and the finished article will be so much more cherished because the child made it him or her self. It is simple to do and does not need to be long: for young children it is best if each book lasts no longer than a month as younger children like change. You will need a piece of A4 card for the cover and then 8 pages of good quality cartridge paper of about 170 gsm for the pages. See resources. Fold each piece in half, including the card. Lay the pages in a pile with the card at the bottom, ensuring that all edges are flush and the folds are together. Using a sharp needle make three holes evenly spaced down the centre fold, passing through all sheets. Keeping the pages together, thread the needle with some strong thread and starting with the middle hole (and leaving long end), go down, back to the middle, up, back to the middle, three of four times. On the last time, cut the thread with plenty to spare as you approach the middle for the last time. Tie the two ends together securely. If you have a guillotine you may like to trim the edges of the book to make the pages flush. Decorate the front covers beautifully - this could be an art lesson in and of itself. Encourage the child to take great delight in his/her nature diary.
Keeping the Nature Diary Keeping a nature diary requires patience and persistency. These are good traits to be developed in young children, however the parent will need to encourage and supply with fresh ideas to be recorded. There is a need here for variety, to keep interest alive. Each entry should of course record the date. Sometimes observations will centre around the weather, or clouds, or wind. At other times on plants and others on birds, insects or animals. On other occasions there may be opportunity to study footprints in mud or snow. As each book is completed, it will form a diary of the child’s experiences and adventures in nature. However, although it is good to make such a diary, and should be encouraged, and most children will happily take up the suggestion, especially when they see the enthusiasm of others, there may be some who do not. Be careful of causing a distaste for the subject by compelling those with no real desire to record in this way to do so. These diaries will be individual. Even children within the same family may not all record the same aspect of say a nature ramble. One may have been looking up at the sky, while another studied the ground. Allow for individuality. Entries will not necessarily be works of art at this stage - that is not important. Each entry should have the date, and a simple sentence to say what was found/observed. If desired, a simple sketch/illustration can be added. Obviously the older the child the more they may wish to record. Obviously best work should be encouraged.
If your child enjoys nature studies, you will find plenty more things to learn and do in
Nature Explorers the Christian monthly nature magazine for children aged 4 to 8, all based on a 6 day Creation. Priced at: £8 for a PDF version delivered by e-mail £32 for a high quality print edition delivered to your door. Please see www.natureobservations.weebly.com for further information. |
Welcome!After studying for an Early Years Specialism degree (B.Ed. Hons), and teaching in mainstream education, I home-educated my own children, after my husband and I were persuaded of the need to take responsibility for bringing up our children 'in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' (Ephesians 6:4) We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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