Making observations and noticing connections and patterns are key skills for a naturalist. Like any skill, it can take practice to feel confident, and even experienced naturalists can benefit from basic nature journaling activities. This activity may seem simple, but it’s great for people of all ages. Try it next time you want a creative prompt for your nature journal!

Materials you’ll need: In this activity, a Tremont favorite, all you’ll need is your nature journal (or a piece of paper), a writing tool, and access to any outdoor space. This can be done in a backyard, city park, schoolyard, or even in the Smokies. It helps to have a friend do the activity at the same time, but isn’t required.

Your assignment: In this activity, you are going to go outside and find a new best friend. This new best friend, however, might not look like your typical friend – they are going to be something (or someone non-human) that you find in your outdoor space. Take a minute to find this new best friend – something that really stands out to you and that you feel connected with. It could be a rock, an insect, a leaf on a plant, or the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. It’s up to you!

My New Best Friend Nature Journal Example

In this example, Erin listed all the ways she was similar to and different from a green maple seed, still attached to the tree. (Click to enlarge.)

Once you identify your new best friend, set a timer for 10 minutes. Pull out your nature journal and start thinking about all the things you and your new best friends have in common, and all the ways you are different. Make two columns on your page – one will be listing all your similarities, and the other will list all your differences.

For example – if a tree was my new best friend, I might say, “This tree and I are both alive.” Or, I might say, “This tree loses its leaves in the fall; I do not lose my fingers and toes in the fall.”

When the timer goes off, you’re done with this portion of the exercise! If you have a friend doing the activity, move on to the next step – otherwise,  take a moment for reflection (prompts below.)

If you have a friend doing the activity:

Part of being a naturalist is sharing your observations, and in this case, you’ll get to introduce your new best friend to your human friend. Read the list of similarities and differences you came up with between you and your new best friend, but DO NOT tell them who it is! It is your partner’s job to try and guess! Then, switch places – have your partner read their similarities and differences and see if you can guess who their new best friend is!

Take a moment for reflection:

Debrief the process. How did it feel to find your new best friend? What did you learn about the similarities and differences between you? Was your partner able to guess? Why/why not do you think that? Did anything on your list surprise you?

Educators: This activity is great for helping groups become more comfortable in a new space, such as the outdoor schoolyard. At Tremont, we often use this activity on the first day so participants have a chance to get to know each other and our campus better. It’s also a low-pressure way to get used to the idea of nature journaling.

Want more ideas like this? Tap into a network of teachers and local resource providers during friendly, informal monthly professional development and sharing sessions. The Schoolyard Network will provide ideas and encouragement for you to take back to your classroom, focusing on better teaching and learning using the environment as an integrating concept. There is no cost to participate.