This fall I have asked my Environmental Philosoohy students to make fear/wonder journals.

The big idea:

(1) start with a “fear journal” by doing research about some species that you either fear or find gross. Journal and sketch until you find something lovely in it.

(2) Bring your sketchbook with you around campus and stop regularly to sketch something small you see - at least 15 sketches over the course of the semester.

They’re not graded on artistic skill (who am I to judge that!) but on their engagement with the exercise. Get to know the small lives on campus, ideally by slowing down and paying close attention. This part is about shifting from fear to wonder, and I take a leaf from John Muir Laws, asking students to both sketch and to observe in words and numbers. Notice details, make comparisons, write down the questions that arise.

(3) Together we will choose a few species and make something like a zine or some other educational material to share what we have learned with others.

So over the course of the term we begin with fear and then move to wonder (Aristotle says “the love of wisdom begins in wonder”) and from there we look to share the wonder we have found.

You might give it a try as well. If you do, I’d love to hear what you learn.