I loved the idea of nature journals: going out into nature with a sketchbook to observe and draw and write about the naturla world around you. So I made a little nature journal bag for Annabelle. It contained a sketchbook, watercolors, sharpie marker, and some pencils. I wanted to start simple and add things as needed. Ananbelle loved her journal bag. She drew in it when we went to the coast and when we were out in nature in our town.
But her nature journal began to change and transform into more than a nature journal and became truly Annabelle's journal. Annabelle draws, writes, pastes in photos all from her life. Her journal has become a record of both her life and her art. Once again, Annabelle showed me that she will construct her own learning, her own ideas, and ways of working. What started out as a way for her to have a deeper relationship with nature (my idea), it now is work completely owned and loved by Annabelle (I love it too!).
A lighthouse and ocean waves
One of many crescent moons
A sunflower
Patooki, a magical elephant that went on an outing, to some gardens, with us one day last fall.
A photo of a hole Annabelle dug at a children's garden. This was when she started writing titles and dates for her entries.
A still life of Paperwhites
A zebra, after a trip to the zoo
Photos taken from an afternoon of painting many cat paintings. She sounded out herself (we call it kids spelling), "CT PTG" (Cat Painting).
