We explore and make a field guide or “collection” of things within a focused category, such as leaf types, rocks in a stream, things that are red, or tracks paving the way for deeper learning about science concepts.

Focused observation of a category leads to a deeper understanding of it. A stamp collector scans every envelope that enters the house and notices unusual stamps and postmarks that most people would miss. Participants can harness that type of focus to deepen nature observations by making a field guide. Any topic will lead participants to explore a world that they might otherwise overlook and to develop understanding of a category of things. If we make a collection of fall fruit in our journal, we begin to see fruit on every bush and vine. If we make a field guide to “fuzziness,” we will begin to see objects, relationships, and patterns among fuzzy things that would otherwise go undetected. Exploring with narrow focus will spark questions about similarities and differences among the objects, such as “What might be common functions of fuzziness?” paving the way for deeper learning about science concepts. We explore and make a field guide or “collection” of things within a focused category, such as leaf types, rocks in a stream, things that are red, or tracks.