Nature Note Resources
Activity - Outdoors
Grades5, 6, 7, 8Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Gulf of Maine Research Institute
What it is
- These student pages will guide students in observing the world around them.
- Students will select a topic, make multiple observations on that topic, then create a nature note to present their findings.
Teaching tips
Positives
- There are many opportunities for student choice throughout this learning module, so students will feel like they have some autonomy in their learning.
- The opportunity to submit their nature notes to "Findings in the Field" gives students an authentic purpose for their work, especially if they also participate in the citizen science projects.
Prerequisites
- It may be beneficial to discuss with students what plants and animal species you have locally.
- For the Building Background Knowledge step, students may need explicit instruction for how to use books, field guides, or the Internet to research their topic. They may also need to be reminded to save their sources and that Google is not a source, but a search engine containing many sources.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To introduce more independent students to scientific observation, groups or pairs of students can go through stations reading multiple nature notes together, then record and discuss what most nature notes have in common.
- Students who struggle with finding something to observe can practice recording what they experience with their five senses (remind students not to taste anything, for safety).
- After completing this lesson, time to return to the observation spot can be incorporated into a daily, weekly, or monthly class routine.
- It may be helpful to create an anchor chart with students about safety measures that need to be taken while observing outside. This chart can hang in the room year-round.
From the scientist review
This learning module from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute gets students out in nature, making observations, formulating questions and hypotheses, and drafting a Nature Note in either video, visual, or written form. This resource features an excellent teacher’s guide with clear instructions and numerous examples linked to show what a good Nature Note looks like. The student notebook has simple instructions and space for students to plan, record and organize their ecosystem observations. Once students have created their Nature Note, a clear rubric and feedback form help to guide students through the peer review of each other’s work, giving students hands-on experience with the peer review process that is so important in scientific research. This resource is superb for getting students to open their eyes and ears to make observations out in their local environment and then compile these findings into a coherent Nature Note. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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