This is a set of printable Nature Journal backyard science activities that can be used with any age.
 
The activities in this guide are designed to work well in a variety of educational settings—whether you're teaching in a classroom, a co-op, a nature or forest school, or an outdoor enrichment class (which is where I’ve personally used them!). Of course, they can also be enjoyed right at home.
Inside this download, you’ll find a collection of engaging resources for a guided nature activity focused on exploring your own backyard. Each printable and activity includes suggestions for how to use it, but feel free to adapt them to best fit your learner’s needs.
 
Nature Study is one of the most accessible and rewarding ways for children to begin observing and learning about the world just outside their door.
In my own childhood, we were encouraged to spend time outdoors—to smell the earth, notice the different plants, and follow our curiosity wherever it led us. Sadly, in today’s fast-paced world, that beautifully curious and essential time to explore in nature isn’t always prioritized.
With the ever-present fear of risk, the pressures of technology, and the demands of constant testing, making space to slowly and intentionally connect with the natural world—right in our own backyards—can feel like going against the grain.
But that time in nature is deeply important. It fosters wonder, patience, observation, and a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.