Environmental Science Notebooks

Local Biodiversity & Ethnobotany

One of the most meaningful souvenirs that I brought home from my visit to Guyana was my journal complete with sketches and photos. It was a tool to remember important events, the people I met, and the biodiversity I encountered. It really was the first time in my life where I kept a journal, and over the course of my trip, I developed an appreciation for the time I spent writing every night, and I liked the opportunity to reflect on what experiences we experienced that day.

Keeping a Field Notebook encouraged me to view our environment more carefully throughout the day--I looked for discoveries and details to record in my notebook, even when it was out of reach. , Before beginning my work with Miami University, I never kept a Nature Journal or Field Notebook before. As a teacher, I've used science notebooks for years with my students, but not as an aid for making observations and conducting investigations outside of our  classroom walls. Well, until now!

This term I'm determined to take my students outdoors to observe the natural world, learn about the native plants and animals in our urban environment, and conduct investigations. My students and I are going to start out simple by just taking a composition notebook, a pencil/pen, thermometer, and a hand lens out twice a week. Students are also expected to work in their journals outdoors twice a week outside of school as homework.

I'm working to incorporate the thoughts, opinions, and expertise of my community in this project. There are several staff members who I work with who can help me identify the plants and animals of the backyard. Recently, another teacher and I met to select some folktales and articles to use with our students that can support their knowledge of native plants and the traditional medicinal uses by the first Pacific Northwest peoples.