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Matilda
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| Posted: March 20 2007 at 9:20am | IP Logged
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We are starting a unit study on local wildflowers and I want to make a notebook or nature journal to go along with it. We have never done one before and I was wondering what makes the best kind of notebook? Spiral notebook, 3 ring binder, artist sketch pad (I expect there to be just as many photos and clippings as sketches), scrapbook album, etc....Pros and cons?
I plan to do some flower pressing, I have at least two crafts in mind that would be sort of 3 dimensional and wouldn't go easily into something completely flat. Maybe those should be kept separate from the sketches and clippings?
Help!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 21 2007 at 10:09am | IP Logged
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WE use all types! Mine is a bound journal, ds (11) is a spiral bound sketchbook, and dd(5)'s is a 3 ring binder. They all work fine.
PROS/CONS:
I like the 3 ring for my dd because I can add in stuff she does off the internet like coloring sheets, etc. But it is too bulky for carrying around, so she has a small sketchpad she carries on hikes that I can remove the pages and add to her notebook when we get back.
So far the spiral bound book hasn't had any pages get loose, but I do worry that will happen.
Thick pages are good for using both sides (less bleed-through) and gluing stuff in.
Mine I like because it has a combination of blank and partially lined (lightly) pages, some nice quotes and tips.here is the one I use
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 21 2007 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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I'm always experimenting with notebooks, Matilda. The boys use binders and we have glued things (ferns, etc.) onto cardstock and slipped the pages into sheet protectors. If your projects are quite large, you could photograph them and keep the pictures in your notebooks (display the projects on a nature table perhaps).
I like a plain spiral bound book, myself. It is easier for writing in. 
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 1:59am | IP Logged
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We like this note/sketch book which has top half of page blank for drawings, photos, or specimens and the bottom half lined for writing observations and data.
You can also print out pages like this storybook paper from Donna Young and hole punch it to put in a binder. That would be a better option for something that was bulky.
I'm going to start a thread in Rabbit Trails to add the ideas for a wildflower unit study since it is such a great idea.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Mary G
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 7:52am | IP Logged
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 we don't have nature journals -- well, we do but we don't use them much at all. I just can't seem to decide between bound and loose -- My kids (esp Thomas) are so worried about making it perfect they freeze when told to draw something.....loose makes them feel like they can just get another piece and make it better....
I love the link to Donna Young's site, MaryM -- thanks! That might make it fun and you could print it on the quality paper you want to use at the time -- sometimes I just let the kids use printer paper (esp for pencils) but heavier would be better for paint .....
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Matilda
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
| My kids (esp Thomas) are so worried about making it perfect they freeze when told to draw something |
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This is my problem too! Mine...not my kids ! That's why I have had a hard time making this decision. (Don't even get me started about making a timeline ---- argh!) 
Gotta love those obsessive-compulsive tendencies! 
I am leaning toward the binder idea so that we can add what we need depending on what we do. Right now one craft idea involves sunflower seeds and one involves popcorn. Unless I shellac those, they might only make it in the binder in photo form.
Thanks for all the great ideas! I can't believe I ever got along without this place!
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
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Waltzing Matilda
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 1:30pm | IP Logged
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So, are you going to post these craft ideas or just leave us guessing? 
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Theresa
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LaPaz Home Learning
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Matilda
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 1:50pm | IP Logged
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I posted most of the links in the Rabbit Trail thread that Mary started. The popcorn one is the one I am most excited about and there are a couple of different sunflower crafts using real sunflower seeds to be found online but I only posted one idea. I will update our progress on the blog. Right now, I am wiping drippy noses and making lots of tea and gatorade. Allergies! 
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Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 22 2007 at 2:31pm | IP Logged
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Oh, yeah. THOSE links!
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Theresa
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mellyrose
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We use Moleskine Pocket Cahier Notebooks for our nature notebooks.
They are bound books, and I got the buff covers so the boys could decorate them. They are small, but they have worked well for us this year.
We don't add extra things, though. We have taped in some leaves on a few pages, but that's it.
My boys are young, and my intention this year was to get them used to observing and recording. Once a week we get the journals out and observe/record something in nature. (Often times something in our yard) At the beginning of the year, I would record whatever they wanted to say, now my 6 yr old writes his own observation for his entry.
Melanie
Mom to Colin(6), Nate(4) and baby girl on the way in May!
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: What makes a good nature notebook?
