Nature Journaling #305: How to Enjoy the Lyrids Meteor Shower

Nature journals are a fun way to pass the time. To many Great Parks nature interpreters, they are a tool that fosters meaningful connections with the natural world. This is your journal – something to help you connect to the natural world around you and make discoveries along the way.

If the weather is too awful to go outside for your nature observation, take a peak out a window from the comfort of inside your home! If you do venture outside, you may want to take a small pocket notebook to make notes or quick sketches to work further with them when you get back inside. Also, use a pencil – ink in a pen could freeze if it is too cold! Any notebook will work for your journal.

Stars shine over a forest at night.
Photo courtesy flickr user robin_24/Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Today’s Prompt: How to Enjoy the Lyrids Meteor Shower

If you can stay up late or get up very early in the morning, you might just catch the Lyrids Meteor Shower. These are streaks of light that are caused when space dust comes into contact with our atmosphere. They seem to come from the constellation Lyrid.

The Lyrids Meteor Shower happens annually and will happen this year from April 16–25. The moon is getting brighter during this time and may make it hard to see the meteors. If you get to see them, how does it make your feel to see them streaking through the sky?

A Few Tips for Success:

  • Work with your child’s attention span. If they aren’t enjoying an activity, allow them to choose a new one. If they are highly focused, give them plenty of time to continue the observations.
  • Allow creativity. Children often have interests that go beyond the questions we pose. Create a safe environment so they can create and explore on their terms.
  • Journal along with your child. You never know what you may discover and it’s a great way to spend some quality time together.
  • Try activities at different times of day. Observations may change with time and temperature.

Want to try your hand at different nature journaling topics? Click here for more prompts.