34 Inspiring Nature Journal Prompts

Nature Journal Prompts and Nature Writing Ideas for Students— From early American authors like Henry David Thoreau to modern writers like Annie Dillard, nature writing has a long and storied tradition of exploring the natural world through observation and reflection.

Nature Inspired Writing ideas for Students

Teaching kids to write about nature is one of the best ways to instill an appreciation for the natural world in them while also helping them develop their writing, analytic, and reflection skills.

Kids will reflect on everything from how they use their senses in the natural world to the reasons that nature has served as such a long-term source of inspiration to writers and artists around the world. As they write about and spend more time observing everything they see outside, students will gain a deeper appreciation for nature and a better understanding of how to reflect and analyze their surroundings.

Use these new nature journal prompts and writing ideas to get kids thinking about the beauties of the natural world and their place in it!

34 Nature Journal Prompts and Writing Prompts for Kids

How much time do you get to spend outdoors?
If you were a part of nature, what element would you be? Why?
Spend 15 minutes outside observing the world around you. Write about what you notice most.
What is your favorite season? Why?
Write a short story about a summer thunderstorm.
What is the most beautiful place in the world? What do you love about it?
When you go outside, which of your senses are you most thankful to have?
Do you consider yourself a nature-lover? Why or why not?
Would you rather have your favorite season all year long or experience different seasons throughout the year? Why?
If you could experience any new part of nature, which one would you choose? Why?
Choose a natural object that you can see when you look out the window and write about it. Describe how it looks and moves and imagine how it might sound or feel.
How do people who live in the city enjoy nature in comparison to people who live in the country?
What element of nature speaks to you the most? Why?
What is your favorite place outside to explore?
What do you think life was like for our ancestors who had to live off of the resources they could get from nature? Do you think you could have survived this way?
Write a story or poem in which nature is the main character rather than just a setting.
What is your favorite time of day to be outside? What do you like about it?
Write a short story about a leaf falling from a tree.
How does the weather impact the way you are able to enjoy nature?
How are the seasons different from one another?
Write a story about a world in which we live in the clouds and look at a sky full of grass and trees above us.
What can we do to better protect our natural world?
Write a poem about your favorite season.
Write about your favorite thing that lives outside. It can be a flower, an animal, a vegetable, etc.
Would you rather live in a secret forest or on a desert island? Why?
Do you think that people take enough time to appreciate nature? Why or why not?
Why do you think nature inspires so many writers and artists?
What part of nature are you most thankful for? Why?
Throughout the world, there are many trees that have stood in the same place for hundreds of years. Write a story about all of the historic events and changes in society that one of these trees has seen.
Write a short story about winter’s first snowflake.
Choose one element of nature (a tree, flower, cloud, etc.) and write a poem from its perspective.
What is your favorite type of weather? Why?
What is the best part of playing outside?
Write a story from the perspective of a bird that can see the entire world from above.

I hope you enjoyed this list of nature journal prompts.

Naturalists and scientists historically have used sketch books and journaling extensively as they practiced their wildlife observation skills and documented their nature finds. Perhaps you will do the same. I certainly hope you do!

Ok, that’s all for today. Now get to it and have your writers grab their notebook, pencils, pens, crayons or any of their writing mediums of choice and get to nature journaling now. The birds, bees, butterflies and more await you!

Until next time, write on…

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Sincerely,
Jill
journalbuddies.com
creator and curator