Nature Walk

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In this activity, learners take an indoor nature walk and discover various objects that have been brought in from the outdoor environment. In preparation for the activity, an educator places natural and man-made items around a room for learners to discover. Learners examine what they find and make notes about what they see and smell, how they (the learners) feel, and what each item looks like (including sketches). Then the group addresses the topic of "Leave No Trace" as it applies to a real nature walk. This would be a great activity before a field trip to a park, arboretum, or other outdoor environment, and can be done with one learner, a class, or even a large group at a family science event.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 11 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Simulation
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • paper
  • pencils
  • nature specimens
  • flip chart
  • markers

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Earth Structure
      • Rocks and Minerals
  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Plants
      • Animals
    • Ecology
      • Ecosystems
      • Human Impact
    • Human Senses and Perception
      • Smell
      • Vision
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science and Society
      • Ethics

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile
  • smell
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

Funding Source:

  • TOYOTA