Simon likes to collect and inspect weird things he finds outside like bugs, rocks, and these little beauties:
(Anyone know what they are? Or will I have to just wait until they hatch inside the jar on my kitchen counter?)
This summer I decided that when he makes his discoveries I will have him make a page about them at some point during that day. On the page I have him record things like what he found, where he found it, what he thinks things are or look like.
Here he traced the outline of the crazy mystery cocoons and then drew pictures of what he thought was inside of them. When he was finished we dated it, three hole punched it, and added it to his field journal.
His field journal consists of pages like the one above and lined paper pages where he records cool facts or things he learned as we have been reading these:
A pile of books we found at a fund raiser yard sale and purchased for 25 cents each. (It was like the best deal ever…we got some really great books!)
Since Simon loves all things science he loves reading and learning all about, plants, animals, bugs, and especially natural disasters. Which led us to this addition to the field journal:
…magazine clippings of amazing things (mostly dramatic weather and natural disasters).
We got the magazines at my grandma’s house but they can be bought at most thrift stores. I love National Geographics—the pictures are awesome and have led us to look up some really cool information for Simon.
His pages don’t look the greatest but it’s all his work. And the “field journal” is actually a 3 Ring Binder purchased at the Dollar Store so it’s not a fancy shmancy leather bound volume of scientific research but it’s fun, and he’s learning, and that makes me a happy mom.
***Just a side note: We don’t do the field journal everyday. If we did I think it would loose it’s magic. We only do it when we find cool things outside, read an amazing fact, or Simon wants to go through the National Geographics. Anyways, just in case you are going to try it, I’d recommend just letting it happen and not forcing it.
Love the field journal idea…..we need some science help around our house!
They look a lot like paper wasp pupae cocoons…
I found some in my garden once. I think they’re some kind of moth. Maybe bury them in dirt if you’re gonna try and hatch them. Love the field journal idea!
The field journal idea is so awesome! I’m gonna have to remember that when my daughter gets older.
Hmmm, you’re a much better mother than I am . . . if my son brought those nasty pupa things in my house I probably would have shrieked and stepped on them. But I love this idea, and I bet he loves you for being supportive of (or at least not grossed out by) icky boy stuff 🙂