What is Phenology?

Simply put, phenology is the study of the timing of life cycles of living things. You’ve probably done it, but not even realized it. Have you noticed when the robins return to Wisconsin in the spring? Have you compared when strawberries ripen in the summer? Did one of your favorite trees turn orange earlier than usual? And when was that first snowfall last year?

All of these are examples of people noticing changes in nature around them, and comparing them with when they happened in the past. In these posts, I hope to highlight some easy examples of phenological observations that kids can do, and pair them with a children’s picture book that I love.

If you’re really motivated, keep a journal of things that you notice happening in nature, and then compare it with when those things happen next year. Or use birthdays and anniversaries as your markers - what happens every year around those days?

This week’s book is a great one to share with kids - A Stroll Through the Seasons by Kay Barnham and illustrated by Maddie Frost. It’s a non-fiction book about why we have seasons, with many details that kids can notice in their own worlds.