Connect

Return to or choose a sit spot. Be still and quiet for as long as possible. Tune into the senses as you observe everything in this space. Take several deep breaths. You can use your open hand to do five finger breathing- as you slowly trace one hand with your pointer finger from the other, breath in slowly as your pointer finger moves up the side of the open hand, pause briefly at the tip, and then exhale as you trace down the other side of the finger. Repeat until you have traced your entire hand. Alternatively, you could choose a stick or leaf to trace instead of our hand.

Explore

Grab your Nature Notebook and head outside! Nature notebooks often contain observations about seasonal changes, or what we call “phenology.” Phenology observations encourage you to notice when something happens for the first time in the season. These observations might include like the first robin of spring or the first dandelion. In order to know when something happens for the first time it helps to know what is present in the area being explored.  

Map your place. In addition to recording the date, time, temperature and weather, map out or list what is in your outdoor area (this could be your yard, local park, or the area around your sit spot). In your Nature Notebook, record:

• Plants - dormant, budding, leafing out
• Animals or signs of animals
• Snow or ice
• Insects
• Natural areas
• Human made area
• Sounds and smells

Now that you've collected this data, this record in your Nature Notebook can help you spot change.

Engage

Did you notice something today that you hadn’t noticed before? Were there unusual sights, sounds or smells? Did any of your observations remind you of something you have experienced in the past? Did any of your observations make you wonder about something? Choose one of these questions to ask a friend, family member, or caregiver. If you want to find out about what you might see, check out April Phenology.

Learn more. Want to learn more about how scientists use phenological records? Check out this video of Nina Leopold Bradley sharing what record keeping has helped her learn.

Phenology with Nina Leopold Bradley

Leave a comment below about what you observed!