sciencecenter@blm.gov
blm.gov/CCSC | @BLMCCSC
5600 Science Center Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507
BLM/AK/GI-20/016+8600+A005 22
Create Your Own Field Guide
A field guide is a book with pictures and descriptions that help you identify the
plants and animals you find outside. Explore your yard or a nearby natural space
and create your own field guide of what lives there.
Directions
1. Prepare your field guide by printing the cover and
multiple copies of the observation page.
2. Go outside and record observations about the
different living things you find. Include:
• Name: What type of plant or animal is it? If you do not
know the species, use your notes to look it up later.
• Time & Date: When did you observe the plant or animal?
• Size: How big is it? Use a ruler, or estimate its size.
• Habitat: Where did you find it? In the woods, on your
lawn, perched in a tree?
• Drawing & Description: Draw a picture of the living thing.
Include as much detail as you can. Make notes about
additional details you notice.
• Field Notes: What else do you notice about it? What
makes it different from another plant or animal? How
does it behave?
Materials
• Printout of field guide
pages, or paper to
make your own
• Colored pencils,
crayons, or markers
Questions
• What did you find that
you had not seen
before? How were you
able to find out what it
was?
• What page order for
your guide makes the
most sense to you?
Take a friend outside and use
your eld guide to identify the
things you see together.
Tail curls over its back.
Light ring around eye
Red squirrel eating
a spruce cone.
sciencecenter@blm.gov
blm.gov/CCSC | @BLMCCSC
5600 Science Center Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507
BLM/AK/GI-20/016+8600+A005 22
(Location Studied)
Author Name: _______________________________
sciencecenter@blm.gov
blm.gov/CCSC | @BLMCCSC
5600 Science Center Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507
BLM/AK/GI-20/016+8600+A005 22
Drawing & Description:
Size: Habitat:
Field Notes:
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0.5
1.5
2.5
3.5
4.5
5.5
Inches
Time & Date:
Plant or Animal Name:
