In my work as an educator, learning to ask questions (or ask better questions) is something that I spend days and weeks on with my students. And even though I’m the teacher, it is still a skill that I am working on today. But with questions we often expect an answer, but sometimes nature has other plans.

Asking Questions

There are many different ways to approach asking questions, but one which I have found myself often using is Costa’s Levels of Thinking. This three-tier system helps us ask different kinds of questions.

Level 1 – Google-able questions:
Level 1 are the easiest questions to ask and answer. They have a “right” or “wrong” answer – though in science this can sometimes shift with new data and information. These questions are also the ones that we could pull out a cell phone or computer and search for an answer to online (though that may not always be for the best).

Level 2 – Noodle Questions:
Level 2 questions are where things start to get a bit more interesting though. They require that we “noodle” or think a bit before arriving at an answer. And Level 2 questions are much more likely to have answers that might differ slightly from person to person. When we infer, compare/contrast, or dive into less straightforward explanations, we are having to use our brains more as part of the questioning process.

Level 3 – Doodle Questions:
Now I know you might be thinking – especially with nature journaling – doesn’t doodle involve drawing??? In this case, no… It means that these questions require you do a little more work to answer them. You could ask a room of 30 people a Level 3 question and get 30 different answers based on people’s experiences and background knowledge. These are also the most fun kind of questions to answer as they can involve imagination, prediction, or making a hypothesis. Finding that blend of creativity and science – two of my favorite things!

Finding Answers

So here’s where it can get a bit challenging. We have become very comfortable with the idea of being able to instantly finding THE answer when we ask a question. And admittedly there is something satisfying about finding an answer. But when nature journaling, I think there is something to be said for not rushing to the solution. Or at the very least pausing.

With nature journaling, when I take the time to be more present, I see more…notice more…learn more. And when it comes to questions, I often ask more interesting ones the more time I spend in a place. And if you can find your own nature nook to visit regularly you might even discover the answers to your own questions over time. Taking our time can be valuable in more ways than one.

– Or More Questions?

Sometimes, a question doesn’t lead to an answer, but instead leads to another question…and another question…and another! This is a practice that I have tried to become more comfortable with in my own practice. But the best examples I have seen are in the work of Fiona Gillogly. She has a fantastic way of showing the way that questions can flow from one to another.

A Challenge for This Post…

For your nature journaling practice, I challenge you to ask more questions. Go out and find something that catches your eye. And then ask a question… and then see what else you wonder about. Write them down. And don’t worry about finding the answer(s) – just enjoy being curious!