Nature Journaling in Fifth Grade: More Than Just a Drawing Lesson

In Waldorf Education, science is taught by doing and observing!

In Waldorf education, fifth grade marks a special shift - one where science becomes more focused, more intentional.

Beginning with Botany in the fifth grade and progressing to Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Anatomy, and more in the later years, students are invited into the world of science not through textbooks or lectures, but through phenomenology—an approach that begins with observation and lived experience.

In practical terms, this means students are encouraged to experience scientific phenomena directly, often through demonstrations or hands-on activities, and then draw their own conclusions. No memorizing facts just to regurgitate them—this is science experienced through the senses.

One of the most beloved activities in the fifth-grade Botany block is something called Nature Sketching (sometimes also called Nature Journaling). It’s simple on the surface: students take their colored pencils, etc. and sketchbooks outdoors, find one subject that captures their attention - a flower, a leaf, even a curled root peeking out of the earth - and spend time carefully observing and drawing it.

But here’s the thing: it’s not about the drawing. Not really.

Nature sketching provides a moment of quiet in a busy, fast world.

Sure, students are encouraged to draw what they see with care - matching color, texture, shape, position - but the true goal is deeper. We’re helping them learn to slow down, to really look, and to begin noticing the small details that might otherwise go unseen.

What does the flower smell like? What’s its texture? How many petals? What’s the light doing at that time of day?

This moment of quiet, focused attention is a rare gift in our fast-paced world. And it turns out, it’s doing more than just building observation skills. Nature journaling also introduces two incredibly important ways of thinking that scientists and artists alike rely on: distributed cognition and metacognition.

Let’s unpack those.

Distributed cognition is a fancy way of saying: sometimes, our brains need a little help keeping track of everything. That’s why we use things like calendars, grocery lists, or calculators - they’re all tools that “share the load” of thinking. In the same way, a nature journal becomes a thinking partner. Instead of trying to remember every detail of a flower or the texture of a leaf, the student writes it down or draws it. Their journal becomes an extension of their memory and attention - just like a scientist’s field notebook.

And then there’s metacognition - thinking about our thinking. As John Muir Laws puts it, “Thinking about our thinking helps us think better.” When students go back and review their nature sketches and notes, they’re not just remembering what they saw; they’re also reflecting on how they observed, what they were curious about, and how their perspective might have changed. That’s metacognition in action - and it’s a powerful habit to develop.

Nature sketching is a multi-faceted, powerful tool.

What’s more, the simple act of nature sketching engages a whole web of skills: fine motor skills, attention to detail, language arts (through labeling, note-taking, or journaling), even basic quantitative skills like counting, measuring, and comparing. And every time a student tries something new - maybe they’ve never blended colored pencils to show shading before, or never really paid attention to the shape of a leaf - their brain is making new connections. That’s neuroplasticity at work: the brain growing and adapting through experience.

So while it may look like just a quiet moment with paper and pencil out in the garden or forest, Nature Journaling is a deceptively powerful tool - one that builds scientific thinking, strengthens artistic observation, supports language and reflection, and even grows the brain itself!

And best of all? It invites the student into a lifelong relationship with the natural world - one quiet sketch at a time. And what our students learn to love, they will strive to protect.

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About the Authors

Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, Waldorf Art for Beginners, and Weekly Art Foundations. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers. Robyn has been in the world of education for over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world. 

Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, Botany, and Geology, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum! 

Waldorf Sixth Grade Curriculum: Exploring the Natural World through Physics

In sixth grade, it’s time for a whole new way of exploring the natural world: the study of Physics!

As the child is leaving the comforting world of early childhood and entering into a new realm, it’s the perfect time to re-enliven and re-invigorate their sense of awe and love for the natural world, all while discovering scientific phenomena and law. 

An example main lesson book page illustrating experiments around Optics, from our sixth grade Physics course!

While a Waldorf student has been exploring nature throughout the grades, middle school marks a shift in the curriculum where scientific study becomes far more structured and a key area of focus. These blocks call upon the educator to teach in a new way using phenomenology (Huh? Click here for more) and for the student to approach their learning from a different perspective.

So, what’s sixth grade physics all about? The block starts with the basics, and calls upon the student to use their observational and practical skills to discover the laws of sound, heat, light, magnetism, and electricity. 

The curriculum typically begins with the study of acoustics, where students explore the nature of sound. They learn how sound is produced by vibrations and how it travels through different materials. Through activities involving musical instruments and simple sound experiments, students investigate phenomena like pitch, echo, and resonance.

The curriculum also introduces students to the principles of heat and thermodynamics. They examine how heat is generated, how it moves, and how it affects materials—causing them to expand, contract, or change state. This is a particularly fun aspect of the block; seeing an educator use a blowtorch is always exciting (when done safely, of course!)

The study of magnetism in action!

When studying optics (also referred to as the study of light) students observe the characteristics of light and how it behaves in our world. With the use of a completely blacked out room, students observe how light is invisible, how it can create a camera obscura, and explore the vast world of color and shadow. 

Magnetism is explored through the use of simple magnets and iron filings, allowing students to observe magnetic attraction and repulsion, and the concept of magnetic fields. They experiment with magnetic materials and learn about the basic properties of magnets, including polarity.

Finally, students are given an introductory look at static electricity using balloons, various kinds of fabric and textiles, and other materials. Though explored simply, this portion is setting the stage for 8th grade physics when students will build motors, explore circuits, and more! 

This 6th grade Physics block sets the foundation for the future as the curriculum deepens in complexity, where physics will be visited again in 7th and 8th grade.

It’s an exciting shift where the educator and student enter a new realm of observation, investigation and exploration! 

More on the blog:

About the Authors

Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, Waldorf Art for Beginners, and Weekly Art Foundations. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers. Robyn has been in the world of education for over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world. 

Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, and Botany, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum! 

Waldorf Botany Curriculum: Shifting Focus to the Higher Plants

A watercolor painting of the “higher plants” from our Botany course!

In Waldorf fifth grade botany, the second block focuses on the “higher plants,” or those that have true leaves, roots, stems, and flowers!

(To learn more about the first block and its focus, click here).

The second block, often done in the spring, is the perfect time to study these more complex plants with new methods.

Why?

The curriculum meets the developing fifth grader right where they are, which is on the cusp of entering middle school! 

The growing fifth grader is ready to use their observational skills in more complex and challenging ways, and the educator can begin to introduce concepts using phenomenological techniques, preparing them for middle school science curriculum.

The shift in the Botany curriculum is notable; the fifth grader is no longer living so much in the world of imagination and story, but instead, is eager to explore and learn more about the world around them.

In Botany, the second block closely follows the growth of a plant from the very beginning. As the fifth grader is growing and changing rapidly, it’s the perfect time to connect with nature and see how it blossoms as well. 

An example main lesson book page from our Botany course.

Commonly, students study seeds, germination, photosynthesis, flowering, and seed dispersal, all the while incorporating opportunities to connect to plant life thriving in their own region. As well, students may explore trees, categorize plants according to their characteristics (monocots and dicots), and so much more- the possibilities are endless! 

This block provides an opportunity for the educator to bring the students directly into the learning process, and begin to nurture observational skills and the ability to come to educated conclusions.

It’s a time to do, feel, see, smell, taste, and use all of the senses to connect with the plant world!

From sprouting seeds, to dissecting flowers, the curriculum provides all kinds of opportunities to enliven the students’ connection to the vast world of Botany.

Wondering where to begin?

Most simply, and perhaps more meaningfully, start outside! Gain inspiration, connect with nature, and explore the beauty of the higher plants out in nature; it really is the best place to begin. 

Our Botany course provides a full year’s worth of curriculum for the school year, including two full blocks, hands-on demonstrations, and so much more.

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About the Authors

Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season, Waldorf Art for Beginners, and Weekly Art Foundations. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers. Robyn has been in the world of education for over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world. 

Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, and Botany, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum! 

5 Tips for Studying the Lower Plants in Waldorf Fifth Grade Botany

Why begin with the “lower plants” in Waldorf Botany curriculum? In fifth grade Botany, we often begin with a full block that explores the “lower plants” or “simple plants”- algae, fungi, lichen, moss, and ferns. 

Curious to learn more about why botany is usually split into two blocks? Click here!

Hands-on experience is the best way to connect with the lower plant world! 

While we know that some of these lower plants are not all truly plants, each of these organisms have a magical, mystical sense to them in their structures, purpose, and appearance. Exploring them opens up the world of botany for the student in a gentle way; perfect for the young fifth grader who is just beginning their developmental journey towards puberty and middle school. 

How can you bring hands-on experiences of the lower plants into your botany curriculum?

We’ve got five ideas to get you started!

• Algae

  • Plan a time to be out in nature, and see if you kind find algae in a nearby river, lake, or beach. Note its color, movement, texture, and location. Not near a body of water? Head to your local library and ask for books and resources on algae, preferably one with all kinds of images! 

• Lichen

  • Head outside and try to find lichen. Look around on surfaces: fence posts, rocks, concrete, stepping stones, etc. This is a great activity even for those who live in urban areas- you’ll be surprised where lichen grows! 

• Fungi

  • Create your own sourdough starter (a yeast fungi!) and learn how to tend to it to make it active for baking. Make bread, pancakes, bagels- the sourdough possibilities are endless!

• Moss

  • Build a terrarium using moss, plants, and other elements. This can be used as an ongoing project throughout your study of Botany, as you can continuously add to your terrarium, and watch it thrive! 

• Ferns

  • Bring ferns into the kitchen! Head to your local market and purchase some fiddleheads for a taste test. After observing them closely, find a yummy recipe and cook them up together. 

Enjoy the outdoors, and see what you discover!

When it doubt- Go outside! You’ll be amazed at how the lower plants thrive in even the most unexpected places. Explore and connect with nature- it’s always worth it!

Looking for more support for the fifth grade Botany curriculum? Our course offers a full year’s worth of material, main lesson book page tutorials, art lessons, instructor support, and so much more!

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About the Authors

 Robyn Beaufoy is Waldorfish’s CEO, and also a course instructor for Simple Season (coming soon!), Waldorf Art for Beginners, and Weekly Art Foundations. You’ll find her intuitive touches and influences throughout everything Waldorfish offers. Robyn has been in the world of education for over 25 years, with an MA in Education and a certification in Waldorf teaching - she also homeschooled both of her children for some of that time. In 2012 Robyn co-founded Waldorfish.com, creating it with the vision of making Waldorf inspired-art and pedagogy more accessible, joyful, and doable for homeschoolers all over the world. 

Caitlin Amajor is Waldorfish’s course instructor for Geometry grades 5 & 6, and Botany, as well as our Administrative Assistant. From a young age, Caitlin has been immersed in Waldorf education, attending a Waldorf school from K-8. After receiving a BA in History, Caitlin gained her certification in Waldorf teaching, and spent seven years as a Waldorf class teacher in the upper grades. With a special fondness for watercolor painting and geometry, Caitlin loves bringing Waldorf education to her students all over the world, and seeing their own individuality and style bloom from the curriculum!