June of the 365 Nature Journal
Summer is at its height and the cold dark days of December seem a distant memory. Many of June’s activities are about just getting outside and having a connection with nature.
Natural senses
Hopefully by now you will be firing on all your senses. Tastes, sounds, sights and touch. You will be familiar with the importance of the sensory observations and how they connect you with your world and nature that is near you, building your relationship gradually until it is a love of nature. Tasting wild strawberries of the 8th, squishing the seaweed of the 10th, then there is listening of the 13th and sniffing of the 14th, followed by 23rd, 26th and many others throughout June and all the other months. These observations that use the senses are not to be underestimated.
And yes, you can really have a conversation with a bird! Hopefully your bird feeder of January has attracted many birds and your patience and observations skills are gaining strength. Sit near you feeder as quietly and as still as possible. Can you hear the birds calling to their mates to come and feed? if you repeat the sounds you hear you might find the birds talking back to you!
Live life outside
If you are into dens (11th) its a good time to set something up because you will get the most out of it now for the rest of the summer. Id obviously recommend having your den outside but Den Building book has ideas not just for nature dens but other types too.
Have a campfire lunch on the 4th, in fact have as many as you can. Its always so great to eat outside and the skills and awareness of fires in the wild are a good life lesson. Just keep it simple, marshmallows are what they really want. tips in this article.
Night time events
The evenings are warmer than in the winter (obviously) so some stargazing and sky watching can be much more pleasurable and spontaneous. Take the opportunity on 24th to learn a few more constellations. Cassiopeia_ has always been one of my favourites as its an easy ‘W’ shape.
You may not be the only ones at on these summer evenings. Check out the activity sheet from Wildlife Watch Moth trap (light trap) for 3rd to see what other flying insects you will spot.
If you can see the moon on the 12th (or another day) have a look at this video from NTSA which helps to understand the phases of the moon. I have recreated the experiment with the Smart Happy Club before. Having the kids take a physical action in seeing the changes of the moons shape helps to embed the understanding.
If you want you can use the moon phases observation sheet to track the moon. More prompts appear in the 365 Journal on moon study in October, but start now if the interest takes you.
Natural crafts don’t have to be difficult and they don’t have to be clever. they also don’t have to last forever. It is the doing of it rather than the outcome. Simple natural weaving with unusual materials (click link for instructions) for 20th. Or crafts that encourage us to look closely (27th) like examining the veins in leaves.
I’m always encouraging people to see shapes in flowers. Summer is abundant with loads of these opportunities. We looked at triangles in March daffodils (they have 6 pointed stars too) and 15th June prompts you to look for stars in flowers of which you will find loads. How to look for shapes article will give you tips on how to look for them.
You might have plenty of gatherings of natural items by now and I always try to encourage arranging them in a display. The Natural collections in a chocolate box display (30th) is really accessible to all for displaying your keepsakes
Enter your email details here to receive the monthly emails with all the info and downloads you will need for the 365 Nature journal.
June can be so fun outside but if you do ever have time to do more check out the recent months too! May, April, March, February, January
