Lesson Description:
Students will create their own nature journal from old notebooks to record all of their eco-discoveries around their schools, homes, and neighborhoods.

Eco-fact: in the United States, paper products make up the largest percentage of municipal solid waste, and hard copy bills alone generate almost 700,000 tons of waste and almost two million tons of carbon dioxide.

Procedure:

1. to make a nature journal from old notebooks, begin by removing the clean blank paper from old notebooks. be sure to tear along the dotted line, removing all frayed edges.
2. arrange the paper so that all the pages face the same way, and are evenly lined up.
3. once the paper is arranged, place a piece of construction paper, or lightweight cardstock on the top and bottom of your paper stack.
4. check and make sure the paper is still nicely lined up. if necessary, use paper clips to hold the paper stack in place.
5. one the left side of the paper stack, place a row of five staples ½ inch away from the edge, evenly spaced.
6. once the journal has been stapled, students can decorate the cover with their favorite things in nature, including a title such as nature journal and their name.

Adaptations:

• instead of making journals, pre-made notebooks or diaries can be used as well.
• students can decorate the covers with pictures of plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruits.

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Lesson Type:

• Project

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Sustainability Topic:

• Gardening
• Waste Reduction

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GEF Program Category:

• Waste Reduction Challenge
• Green Thumb Challenge

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