Finished Field Journals

In middle school, you will keep a field journal for sketching and recording data and observations during field studies. Once a month during the school year you will take one of your rough field journals and turn it into a finished field journal.

The finished product is a combination of art, observation, reflection, and research. Finished field journals must be based upon observations recorded in your field journal. This can include plants, animals, or natural features such as geological or geographic formations such as mountains, rivers, habitats, etc. The finished field journals require further research into the subject. This information is combined with substantial artwork. Finished field journals may also include poetry and writing related to the subject. You must cite the sources you used for research.

At the end of the year, your finished field journals will be bound into a collection for you to keep.

Grading - 25 points total

Information– 10 points
Use various sources (books, internet) to gather further information about your topic.

Try to make the information connect to you/the environment.

Poems, stories, and personal reflections are highly recommended

Information can include descriptions of habitat, range, predation, food sources, etc.
If your field journal topic is a plant or animal, you must include the scientific name.

Artwork – 10 points
Use plenty of color, water color paints, colored pencils, cut out paper
Include color in the background

Make the title fancy
No tracing allowed except for range maps

Use black pen (not a pencil) for the small written words.

References– 5 points
References must be included and in the proper form.

Use Citation Maker to ensure the proper form.

One finished field journal will be due on the last day of the month.

Rough Field Journal Rubric

Field journaling is a skill. Skills take practice to master. In general, a field trip is worth 20 points: 10 points for participation and 10 points for the field journal. Break-out level work will result in 10 points plus extra credit.

This scoring guide defines the criteria for full credit (10 points) at each skill level.

Emerging (6^th grade plus)	Proficient (7^th grade plus)	Advanced (8^th grade plus)	Break-Out (all ages)
Quick field sketch. One or more topics. Some aspects of field work may be missing	Quick field sketch with a main drawing and two or more detail drawing. One or more topics. Most aspects of the fieldwork are included.	Quick field sketch with a main drawing and two or more detail drawing. One or more topics. All aspects of the fieldwork are included. (i.e. If the fieldtrip covers different areas then all areas are represented in the field journal.)	Advanced level drawing with more sophisticated arrangement or detail. May include color. May include panorama/ background. May include rubbings or samples when appropriate. Visually stunning.
Accurate descriptors	Complete accurate descriptors and some anecdotal notes.	Complete accurate descriptors and anecdotal notes that could be used for a finalized field journal.	Complete accurate descriptors and anecdotal notes that could be used for a finalized field journal. May include attention to several details. May include personal stories connected to the student’s life. May include poems/songs.
Accurate heading including name, date, time, weather conditions, and location	Accurate heading including name, date, time, weather conditions, and location	Accurate heading including name, date, time, weather conditions, and location. Includes a more detailed description of location and weather.	Accurate heading including name, date, time, weather conditions, and location. Includes a more detailed description of location and weather.

Home