
Spring nature journal writing prompts can help fill your days with things to do, observe, and journal.
Spring is a time of high activity. So much is happening it can be overwhelming. I learned to be choosy. I like to decide early in the season what to focus on for nature study.
One year, I noticed the beauty of tree blossoms and began to photograph them. Next I decided to focus on cloud formations, patterns and predicting weather.
So, to help you choose what to study in your nature journal, I have divided the list into topics. These nature activities and spring journal writing prompts are suitable for a wide range of ages.
Spring Nature Journal Writing Prompts
About the Season of Spring
An overview of what is happening in Spring. Nature in Spring
- Spring starts from the Ground Up
- Create a seasonal round of cycle of the year.
- Seasons: Earth Natural Rhythms Explained
Weather and Ecosystems
- Is it really rainy? How many rainy days are there?
- If there is a vernal pond near you, record the changes and happenings there.
- If you travel out of your region, notice what is happening in places away from your home.
- Keep track of the lengthening days. What time does the sun rise and set?
Plants
- Draw or photograph the new buds on trees.
- Keep a nature calendar of blooming flowers. Learn about blooming sequences and phenology.
- How many wind pollinated trees are in your neighborhood?
- Draw the parts and structure of flowers.
- Study which flowers are like to attract which insects. See Pollinator Syndromes. Were you right?
Animals
- Keep an eye out for roadkills. Roadkills can tell you what animals share your home area with you.
- Keep a list and draw the first butterflies. When do they emerge? Study their life cycles using butterfly identification and natural history guides.
- What insects emerge first?
- Listen for the first chorus of frogs
- Learn the difference between a bee and a fly. Bee or Fly?
- Learn the differences between bumblebees, honey bees, and other bees and wasps.
- Learn to Draw Insects, Head, Thorax, and Abdomen
Birds
- Keep track of which spring migrating birds arrive first.
- Listen for the start of bird song. Try to learn the songs of two or three species.
- Listen to the ‘Dawn Chorus‘ – when male birds sing at the top of their lungs.
- Take notice of the shrubs and trees where birds build their nests and establish territory.
- Watch birds has they go about their life cycle of migration, courtship and raising young.
How to Keep a Nature Journal
Observation Checklist to Sharpen Your Skills
Choosing Binoculars for Nature Study
Choosing a Hand Lens for Nature Study
Look for Spring-Focused Citizen Science Projects at SciStarter.org
I really like how you wrote that there are so many things to journal, you had to become choosy.
That’s really settles the mind when it knows what to seek & find. Thanks for your great instructions.
Thanks,
Barbara