Phenology Wheel Nature Tracking

A large piece of poster board

Colored pencils or markers

A ruler and something to draw circles (a plate works)

Observation notes from outdoor walks

A protractor for dividing the circle into 12 equal wedges

Draw a large circle on poster board. Use a plate or bowl as a template. Divide it into 12 equal wedges — 30 degrees each if you're using a protractor, or just eyeball it.

Label each wedge with a month. January at the top, moving clockwise through the year.

Start with the current month. Fill in the wedge with observations from your outdoor explorations: What's blooming right now? What birds are singing? What insects are active? What's the temperature range? Draw and color illustrations of key species.

Each month, add to the next wedge. First crocus sighting in March. First lightning bug in June. First red leaf in September. First frost in November. These "first sighting" dates are phenological data.

Include specific dates for key events. Scientists call these "phenological markers" — and they actually matter for tracking climate change over years.

By December, your wheel will be a stunning visual summary of one full year in your local ecosystem. Hang it on the wall. Start a new one next year and compare.

Phenology is a real branch of science. It studies the timing of natural events — when things bloom, migrate, emerge, and hibernate. Your child is practicing it.

Keep a small notebook in your pocket or bag for jotting down nature observations in the moment. Transfer the best ones to the wheel each month.

Compare your phenology wheel to your parents' or grandparents' memories. "When did the dogwoods bloom when you were a kid?" Changes in timing over decades can reveal climate shifts.

The National Phenology Network (usanpn.org) collects citizen science phenology data. Your child's observations can contribute to real research.