Words and Writing Inspiration
Words are an important part our nature journals. Drawings and pictures get a lot of attention, but writing allows us to observe the world with a different perspective. You don’t have to use correct spelling, grammar, or nice handwriting to jot down stories, ideas, labels, notes, or even poetry in your journal (but you can also care about those things if that makes you feel good!) Below are some resources to hopefully help inspire you to write more in your journal.
Check out my Nature Poetry worksheet to help with coming up with ideas for writing poetry and advice for putting to all together.
Even if a child is too young for writing on their own, there’s great ways to help them develop language skills while they’re interacting with nature (and you can always write what they say in your own journal): https://www.edutopia.org/article/language-acquisition-art-nature-preschool
“Playing with Words” is a great round up of links and videos from International Nature Journaling Week: https://www.naturejournalingweek.com/playing-with-words
Fun ways to approach writing in your journal from Marley Peifer: https://marleypeifer.com/how-to-nature-journal/what-is-your-primary-nature-journaling-language-part-1/
Write your dreams for nature and hope for the future, as explained by Rebecca Rolnik: https://www.rebeccarolnick.com/post/our-dreams-for-nature
Two examples of using our senses to inspire our writing by Melinda Nakagawa (as our senses are the hardest to put into images, words are a big help here!) Sounds: https://www.sparkinnature.com/post/listen-to-nature-sounds-as-a-calming-practice As a mindfulness practice: https://www.sparkinnature.com/post/mindful-nature-mind-full-of-the-moment
If you find the 5-7-5 syllable restriction on a haiku poem to be restricting, I found the definition on this site to be freeing and inspirational: “to discover connections in one breath.” https://haikuguy.com/issa/abouthaiku.html
Some videos on this topic from educators in conversation with John Muir Laws:
