Guide 2B Field Notes
Resources
Additional activities, a behind-the-scenes gallery, recommended books, and more.
About this Guide
Real World Biology
If you watch enough nature documentaries you may start to think that animal field research only happens in remote regions, far from human activity. My first experience collecting and studying animals was on an old farm in the suburbs of Chicago. The farm was surrounded by new strip malls (it was the 1980s) and there was a small frog species that could only be found on the fallow, undeveloped land between the corn plots. The farm is long gone, but now 2000 miles away, Mark and I have our own old farmland that we are bringing back to life. I’ll never forget the first pacific tree frog we found, singing from a newly planted Douglas fir.
Lesley
Field Journals
Field Journals are not just about taking notes on location, you can “pre-load” them with maps, images, and information to enhance your experience in the field.
In the past two decades, journaling has had a resurgence, in both digital blog and print formats. Art journaling, using journals as a form of expression, has crossed paths with science field notes to produce beautiful pieces that have been displayed in gallery exhibits around the world. As a result, you can pick up many used books about nature journaling at most book stores.
Additional Activities
On the Farm
Farms can provide diverse field experiences. We often equate with the “wild” or “nature,” but most animals that humans directly encounter are located on agricultural land. Collect data on structures and behaviors, after getting permission or access to any privately owned land.
Pet Protection
As you are developing a safety plan for your own field experiences, it is a good exercise to develop a safety plan for any pets, based on their environmental needs. That can include acceptable ranges of temperatures, water needs, nutrient needs, and potential risks (like cars and fecal materials). Apply your skills to a wider range of applications.
Behind-the-Scenes
Art-Science Connections
We’ve been making displays that highlight connections between art and science.
Setting Up
At some point we realized we study more as teachers than we did as students, but somewhere along the way it became a lot more fun!
Many of the basics of animal biology are also common knowledge in agricultural families. We collect bits of teaching ephemera from old farm supply manuals, 4H guides, and more. Some of the lessons are as rich (jf not richer) than content found in contemporary educational materials.
Recommended Books
Innovative maps show how we learn by tracking animals.
Interested in writing on a regular basis, possibly professionally? The "Pocket Muse" books are a great source of ideas.
A classic look at using nature journaling to learn about yourself as well.
Build a Library
Whether its digital or print, collect resources that assist in exploring, describing, and explaining the natural world.
Field Notes Product Page
Complete this guide’s products before advancing on to the next guide
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Module 2 Overview
This Guide
2B: Field Notes