How To Teach Nature Journaling
by John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren
Illustrated by John Muir Laws
280 pages, 8.5” x 11” illustrated, soft cover
ISBN 978-1-59714-490-2
The Laws Guide To Nature Drawing and Journaling
Written & Illustrated by John Muir Laws
https://johnmuirlaws.com/
303 pages, 8.5” x 11” illustrated, soft cover
ISBN 978-1-59714-315-8
Both Published by HeyDay Books
www.heydaybooks.com
Reviewed by Joseph Grayhaim
These two books represent a tremendous resource in instruction in drawing, painting, writing all in the service of observing nature and appreciating its wonders that are all around us. The fact that the author is named after California’s greatest naturalist and protector, John Muir, gives a firm indication that his life’s work must have been set before him at birth! Mr. Laws attended UC Berkeley, where he had extensive education in the natural sciences and then he attended the graduate illustration program at UC Santa Cruz, where his drawing skills were honed and polished.
For many years, Mr. Laws has taught nature journaling, nature observation and environmental education, throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California in general. John is a dedicated naturalist/artist who has been interested in the work he does since childhood, when he watched his father make copious notes about birds he observed on family trips. John’s dyslexia made him think he was stupid and to seek the non-judgmental solitude of nature observation and his illustrated journals deepened his love for natural science. He is a very skilled artist and The Laws Guide has extensive detail about drawing/painting tools, methods and how to “see” for artistic journaling success.
How To Teach is brimming with a broad range of information for anyone interested in teaching the skills of observing nature — be it animals, plants or birds — and writing about the experience and drawing about the observed in a nature journal. It includes 31 hands-on field activities that connect art, science, math and critical thinking through the lens of the natural world around us. It also includes basic drawing exercises to introduce the student – child or adult – to the skills necessary to draw what is observed.
How To Teach has extensive instructions on field observational techniques, ways to non-intrusively interact with nature as you find it, the underlying philosophy of nature journaling – virtually everything the student needs to develop a detailed method of seeing and recording that which is seen, for life. It includes discussions of Why Nature Journal, Why Teach Nature Journaling, Managing the Outdoor Classroom, Example Journal Pages, specific Activities, adding Words to Drawings, how to Observe for Drawing and Tips for Teachers to incorporate Nature Journaling into existing science curricula. Mr. Laws is also aware of the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, since Ms. Mason advocated nature drawing as an important daily exercise in a child’s learning experience. For parent teachers his books are invaluable for the broad spectrum – drawing, painting, observing, recording one’s observations, etc. Mr. Laws sets forth all of the information a parent needs to make a multi-year unit study of Nature Journaling. Homeschool co-ops can also provide Natural Science classes using these books.
You will do well to give some serious thought to bringing the concepts of nature journaling to your child as a part of his/her homeschooling experience. Please visit the HeyDay website and the John Muir Laws website for more information! J.G.
