September: Observation and outdoor learning

Nature walks

Shape Walk

What you need:

·         Paper cut into various shapes (square, triangle, circle, star, etc…)

·         Yarn

·         Hole punch

Make each child, or have them help make, a shape necklace by cutting various shapes out of paper. Hole-punch the top of each and string onto a necklace made out of yarn. Take a walk outside to look for the shapes on their necklaces. Take a turn with each shape. When one is spotted say “I spy something shaped like____” and have the children try to find it on their own. When you return to the classroom go through each shape and ask children what they saw that was that shape.

Color Walk

What you need:

·         Box of crayons

Take a walk outside with a box of crayons (or several crayons of each color for each child). Find objects that match the crayons.

Listening Walk

What you need:

·         Paper plates

·         Crayons or pencils

Take children on a walk to a grassy location where everyone can sit comfortably. Give each child a paper plate and a crayon. Instruct children to draw a dot in the middle of the paper plate to represent themselves. Everyone will then sit quietly and listen. Each time they hear a sound they mark it on their plate where it sounds like it is in relation to themselves. For example, if they hear a truck behind them they would draw a dot behind them on their plate. There are many variations you can do with this activity, i.e. children can draw a picture of what they hear where they hear it, they can draw themselves in the center, or use a different color crayon for each different sound etc…Base the activity on the ability and age of the students.

Insect Walk

What you need:

·         Magnifying glasses

·         Insect jar

Take children to a grassy or natural area in your outdoor classroom, school yard or close to school. Encourage children to get down on their hands and knees or crouch down to look for insects. Insects are usually found on or near plants. Observe them with magnifying glasses and/or in an insect jar. Discuss what you see and observe. Return insects to where you found them whne you are done observing them.

For these and other great ideas for getting kids outdoors check out Growing up WILD and Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood.