Nature Walks

[desertflower]

Hello,

 

So what does one do during a nature walk for a 5 1/2 and 4 y.o.? 

 

I have the "First Field Guide Trees" by the National Audubon Society and I think it's fantastic.  However, by the time I find the tree in question the kids have moved on.  lol 

 

What do you do?  I don't really want to study all the flowers and trees.  lol  Not my cup of tea.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

 

[8filltheheart]

Collect nature in a bag (acorns, pine cones, leaves, bark, flowers). Look at all the interesting insects and animals. Take pictures. (we went on a walk yesterday and saw the largest Eastern lubber I have ever seen. Yuck!) Look at the clouds in the sky. Etc.

 

When you get home, let them draw a picture about something they saw that captured their attention. Do a little research together to discuss what they saw and why nature designed them the way they are, what they are, or what they signify, etc. (Seed dispersal, food production, protection, reproduction, etc)

 

Keep it simple, fun, and engaging. It doesn't have to be complicated. It is meant to encourage wonder and appreciation of nature. :)

[Lori D.]

LOVE 8FillTheHeart's suggestions. :) That's how we did it, too.

 

In case you need some ideas to spark the learning process for kinder/pre-schoolers on Nature Walks:

Nature Scavenger Hunt, and, Nature Trail Scavenger Hunt

Nature Walk Ideas and Projects

19 Can-Do Nature Walk Variations

7 Nature Walks to Take With Kids

N is for {40+} Nature Walks {with free printables}

[desertflower]

Thank you so much!  I don't appreciate nature like I should.  So, I needed some direction and both of you guys gave some good suggestions.

 

Lori D. I especially like the first, fourth, and fifth sites. 

 

:) 

 

 

[Nart]

 We take our kids on nature walks and they play, dig, climb, jump off things, catch critters, stuff their pockets full, etc.  We sometimes stop and sit down and play "I spy" so that we all notice more things. Before the person goes we all have to be quiet for one minute so we can all get a good look. Do you have any national parks near you or state parks that have junior ranger walks or family walks? It is also fun to go on a hike at a national or state park with a guide who stops and points out so many fascinating things on a walk.  For example, a couple months ago at Zion NP the ranger pointed out resurrection moss (Selaginella lepidophylla) by pouring some water on it to see it turn green. My kids still comment on what they learned with the rangers.  Just remember that you can't take anything with you from a national park - no sticks, rocks, critters, etc.

[Soror]

Quite often we just go out and enjoy whatever we see. Sometimes we'll focus on one particular thing like mushrooms, migrating birds, leaves (identifying trees as well), acorns and pinecones for crafts, and goldenrood flowers now that it is fall. I'm trying to learn more about nature myself so I have knowledge to tell them although at that age most all of us have information to share that the kids find interesting. 

 

When we first started I found the Outdoor Challenge site immensely helpful (I've used her paid and free info both were excellent):

http://handbookofnaturestudy.com/2008/02/green-hour-challenge-1-lets-get-started.html/

 

I've bought a few different books and read many public domain books but I never fell in love with any of them however I have had this book on my wish list for ages:

The Nature Connection

[Sarah0000]

The only thing I purposefully try to include in nature walks is using all five senses to explore what's around us. Taste, obviously, isn't always feasible or sanitary to do yourself, but I'd talk about how such and such may be tasted by animals, or why certain things shouldn't be tasted.

[desertflower]

 We take our kids on nature walks and they play, dig, climb, jump off things, catch critters, stuff their pockets full, etc.  We sometimes stop and sit down and play "I spy" so that we all notice more things. Before the person goes we all have to be quiet for one minute so we can all get a good look. Do you have any national parks near you or state parks that have junior ranger walks or family walks? It is also fun to go on a hike at a national or state park with a guide who stops and points out so many fascinating things on a walk.  For example, a couple months ago at Zion NP the ranger pointed out resurrection moss (Selaginella lepidophylla) by pouring some water on it to see it turn green. My kids still comment on what they learned with the rangers.  Just remember that you can't take anything with you from a national park - no sticks, rocks, critters, etc.

 

A walk with a ranger is a great idea.  I don't know why I didn't think of that! 

 

Thanks for the idea. 

 

[SereneHome]

How do you make kids more engaged with nature?  We go on walks and short hikes, but they don't seem to be into looking at anything in particular. 

 

I don't even need to go any further than our backyard, we have TONS of things to see and investigate, but I just don't see them being that interested.

 

Am I doing something wrong or are they just not too much into nature?  Is it a learned interest?

[desertflower]

How do you make kids more engaged with nature?  We go on walks and short hikes, but they don't seem to be into looking at anything in particular. 

 

I don't even need to go any further than our backyard, we have TONS of things to see and investigate, but I just don't see them being that interested.

 

Am I doing something wrong or are they just not too much into nature?  Is it a learned interest?

 

Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at.  That's why I started this thread.  :)   My son is perfectly happy playing in dirt in the yard.  He loves to walk/run up and down the trails.  But that's about it.

 

Of course, they pick up sticks and rocks, etc.  I have a ziplock bag they put it in.  But I thought I was missing something.  And sure enough got some good responses.  :) 

 

I also went on the website of the nearby national park and it had some good information.  Unfortunately, no ranger tours.  :( 

[SereneHome]

Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at.  That's why I started this thread.  :)   My son is perfectly happy playing in dirt in the yard.  He loves to walk/run up and down the trails.  But that's about it.

 

Of course, they pick up sticks and rocks, etc.  I have a ziplock bag they put it in.  But I thought I was missing something.  And sure enough got some good responses.  :)

 

I also went on the website of the nearby national park and it had some good information.  Unfortunately, no ranger tours.  :(

 

Yep, that's EXACTLY how my boys are.  They'll dig stuff up and bury things and pick up rocks and bring them home.  And that's where it ends.

 

It doesn't help that many moms in various homeschooling groups are creating "nature tables" at home and posting picture of their children looking at things on trails and ponds and having "leaves" projects.....

 

I think I need to look into some kind of Audobon program or something.....

 

Thank you for starting this thread!!!

[Rosie_0801]

How do you make kids more engaged with nature?  We go on walks and short hikes, but they don't seem to be into looking at anything in particular. 

 

I don't even need to go any further than our backyard, we have TONS of things to see and investigate, but I just don't see them being that interested.

 

Am I doing something wrong or are they just not too much into nature?  Is it a learned interest?

 

It depends on the kid. One of mine was born interested, the other one has learned. We've been doing regular nature study since she started K and it took a good year for her to learn to bother noticing anything, and now she'll call my attention to bibs and bobs. We're now starting to learn the names of different types of grass with the help of a handy field guide, but we're quite relaxed about it.

 

I also have her keep a nature journal. Examples of her early work are online in a couple of places. I've been slack about uploading this year's work. It definitely has value, even if their drawing skills leave a bit to be desired. One of dd's waterfalls is coloured a rather violent orange and red as though it was downstream from an exploded paint factory rather than the source of the town's drinking water...

[SereneHome]

Rosie, does your blog has details on how you did that nature study starting in K?

 

ETA:  Never mind, just found it

[Smiles]

I have a 7, 5, and 3 year old the two oldest are boys! So they are on the go a lot! I just want to say at a young age I think it is more about appreciating nature! Like an acorn grows into a mighty oak! I have met many adults who never look up at the beautiful sky or admire the sunset! I want my children to see its beauty! Just being outside is enough at a young age. All 3 of mine have a notebook and even my boys will say hey I want to get my notebook and draw this and they have even learned to try and label and date it, so I get some writing out of them too! My 5 year old wrote caterpillar the other day and came very close to spelling it right!

[Pegs]

We started with identifying and sampling edible plants. My nearly 5yo loves sharing his local knowledge with friends when they visit. We are also familiar with local birds and their cycles/rhythms. We know when to visit the heron, and how to best observe the wrens and finches. We try to get out in different weather conditions, and compare them in our conversations, and I also send my DS out with other people, so he experiences fresh perspectives.

[Guest kesdjmarouse]

It is meant to encourage wonder and appreciation of nature.

[Minerva]

You have gotten some great ideas, but I cannot emphasise enough that  just going out and enjoying it is the best. Let them get dirty. Let them collect stuff. Let them make mud pies. Point out the birds, colors, shapes. It is just like teaching young kids about music. The first thing you want them to do is ENJOY the music. There is time to learn how to classify it, read it, play it...Take time every day to be in nature and the learning will evolve. 

[Rachel]

Following.

[Coco_Clark]

This is how we do it:

 

Step 1. Pack snacks or lunch, extra sweaters and gloves (if it's cold) or swim clothes (if it's warm), and nature supplies (binoculars, magnifying glass, LOCAL nature guides, colored pencils, watercolors, nature journal).

 

Step 2. Arrive at destination and run run run until calmed down. Sometimes this takes 10 minutes, sometimes it's not until after lunch. (And a note on location: I always have this desire for new places but I find we really get the most out of going to the same few places over and over through different seasons.)

 

Step 3. When they've run enough to listen, be interested in what you see around you. Mention that you've never seen that tree before, or if you HAVE, mention you know its a maple because, look, the leaf is shaped so. Mention the creek is rather dry right now. It was more full last time we were here. Look for bugs/birds/tadpoles/animal tracks.

 

Collect things. We have a small wooden box with divisions where we keep leaves, acorns, bits of moss, ect.

 

Keep lists. My boys love bugs especially. So we keep a list for every month of the bugs we see. For our next journal we will "upgrade" to a list of bugs down the left with months across the top and mark when we see them. But right now it's just a new list every month with the bugs name and where we saw it. You could also list trees, flowers, birds, ect.

 

Pick out a tree, view, large rock, ect and ask the kids to "run over there" and come back to tell you one (or two, or three) things about that tree/view/rock. If they are specific act interested and ask them to show you. If they are very general and dull stay where you are.

 

Take "mental pictures" by looking at something and then closing your eyes and describing it. Do this for the kids several times before you ask them to do it.

 

Make sketches of interesting things in your nature journal. I kept a nature journal for several months before I invited the kids to also make an entry in it. And it was several more months before I began requiring one entry per outing. We also include stories of our adventures (like when we upset a hornets nest) and of course our bug lists. Sometimes we will press and tape in a flower or leaf.

 

Step 4. Show dad, grandma, a friend, your nature journal so they can show interest. Look back to the page you made last time you went to such and such place before you go again, "I wonder if we will see more ducks?", "I can't wait to see what the crab apple trees look like, do you think they will have apples?". My kids now are sure to enter things they want to come back to next season, or even next year during this time.

[cintinative]

I am doing a nature study class with older students (4th-8th grade).  For the younger age, I think a collection of fall leaves that you press and then work on labeling them together would be great. Talk about why leaves change color and why they drop.   Also my boys have always enjoyed looking for salamanders, snakes and frogs, even at a young age.  We go to a nearby creek and turn over rocks and find them and release them.  My boys also enjoyed fishing at this age. Learning about fish is nature study of its own.  You could get one of those butterfly kits--that is a perfect age for it--use it to teach about the butterfly life cycle. If they are very interested in insects, get one of the First Field Guides (Audubon I think) for Insects. I have a whole set of them and they are great. I have also found a bunch of golden book ones at thrift stores.  Those are fun.  An insect collection would be tough for that age, unless you pin them all yourself, but keep that in mind for a few years down the road.  

 

I personally do like the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. At first glance it is very overwhelming. But if you break it into digestible chunks it is not so bad. For example I have my students doing squirrel observations using the questions she lays out. They are a bit too hard for a five year old, but you can still sit by the window or sit outside and ask your child questions about what they see.  

 

I really love the iBIRD app--the pro version is kind of pricey and huge size wise but it has hundreds of birds--pictures, information, and their calls. You could go for the cheaper version--it has less but it is still of value.  Bird songs are a great fun thing to learn and your kids will love this app. It's very helpful.  

 

As far as "rangers" helping, we actually have had great experience with our local state park. The Division of Natural Resources staffs the park and there is a nature center where you can go whenever it is open and the naturalists there can go over things with you (all free). They have tons of stuff to look at in the nature center, and they have lots of free programs.  Our local county parks also often have programs for the younger kids (ages 3-5), not so much for the olders during the week, but they are starting to have homeschool programs. Also check and see if there is a BioBlitz in your area. It is a weekend event where they do a census of species in a park. Ours is at a state park and they have lots of ranger-led and specialist-led (think etymologists and herpetologists) hikes and programs you can go on to learn and participate in the census. Ours has free camping too. It's a fabulous (and little known) educational opportunity.

 

Other things we are doing in my class are wild edibles and dyeing with pokeberries.  I think the dyeing project could be done with young kids. You can actually dye with all sorts of things, if you have the time and inclination to do it.  

 

In the spring you can collect wildflowers and press them and make a book.  Look for a tadpole and raise it until it becomes a frog (or a toad tadpole--those are easier).

 

Personally I think some of the struggle with nature study is two fold. One is that we are so programmed to have information just fed to us via the internet or books that we have lost some of our ability to be a careful observer and learn that way. This is where the questions from the Nature Study book are so helpful to me. She asks us to look at the feet of the goose and compare them with the duck, etc.  Things you might not think about otherwise, but produce useful observations.  The other is that for some of the same reasons we struggle to truly be still.  As the parent of two boys, I definitely find this to be the case.  =)  

[desertflower]

Speaking of apps, does anyone know of an app for plants/trees/flowers? More specifically, one can take a picture of the plant and then scan it on the app to see what it is? I know far fetch. ........but thought I'd ask anyhow.

 

We did go hiking yesterday and the scavenger hunt from the website was a blast. We tried the senses as well. All we heard were airplanes. Lol i guess all the birds have flown south, but now that's something for them to think about. :)

 

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Black-eyed Suzan]

My boys (at that age especially) take nature sprints. They sprint through the trails as fast as possible. But once we stopped during a water break and read about a variety of pine. My 8 year old can still identify it. And going to the same spot multiple times helps them see how it changes with the seasons and after storms, etc.

 

Drawing in our notebooks at the location did not work for us! It's ok to adapt concepts to your kids' personalities. :)

[Rosie_0801]

Drawing in our notebooks at the location did not work for us! It's ok to adapt concepts to your kids' personalities. :)

 

Heck no. It's either wind, flies or wind and flies.  :glare:  Or it is too hot.  :coolgleamA:

[kubiac]

Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at.  That's why I started this thread.  :)   My son is perfectly happy playing in dirt in the yard.  He loves to walk/run up and down the trails.  But that's about it.

 

Of course, they pick up sticks and rocks, etc.  I have a ziplock bag they put it in.  But I thought I was missing something.  And sure enough got some good responses.  :)

 

I also went on the website of the nearby national park and it had some good information.  Unfortunately, no ranger tours.  :(

 

Look for a Junior Ranger program for that National Park. Not every single park has one, but it's like a little activity book specific to the park. If your kid completes it (by visiting and studying the park), he/she gets sworn in as a Junior Ranger and gets a badge.

[cintinative]

Look for a Junior Ranger program for that National Park. Not every single park has one, but it's like a little activity book specific to the park. If your kid completes it (by visiting and studying the park), he/she gets sworn in as a Junior Ranger and gets a badge.

 

Agree with this. They sometimes post info on these online as well.

 

If you have a state park system or a US Army Corps park, check out their facebook pages and look for information on programs on their websites.  We don't have a national park very close, but there are multiple state parks.  

[desertflower]

Thank you!

[Dmmetler]

A cheap digital camera is good, too-when my DD was that age, taking pictures got her to slow down enough to actually look at things. Now, we've got the opposite problem-she'll sit for hours watching a toad sit and occasionally eat a passing insect.

 

 

[desertflower]

 

A cheap digital camera is good, too-when my DD was that age, taking pictures got her to slow down enough to actually look at things. Now, we've got the opposite problem-she'll sit for hours watching a toad sit and occasionally eat a passing insect.

 

 

lol. What a good idea!

[MotherGoose]

Often the children will be amazed at the natural world, even if you aren't. Take a tree, or a bush, or a stream, and ask them what they see. Fake some enthusiasm over whatever it is. Talk about the colors, what the creature is doing, etc. :)

[Lucy the Valiant]

A spin-off, but a *dear* memory from that age - we wrote out the alphabet (all caps) on a slip of paper, and took our camera out into nature to find "the letters." We found an L-shaped branch first, then an X in the trees, etc. Some of our letters were NOT from nature (we were in a national park), but at that age, it was a neat conversation about what classified as "nature" and what didn't. When we got home from the trip, I collaged the photos into an alphabet poster that we have all admired ever since.

 

 

Scavenger hunts are COOL - give them the letters of their first name, and they have to find something in nature for each of the 5 letters (creative adjectives are fine).

 

Leaf rubbings are cool (especially if you have something fun like chalk or charcoal) - then choose just 1 to identify later.

 

Count the birds.

 

See if the kids can come up with a question about 1 thing they see.

 

Do birds migrate near you? Look for them! Most of them are going, going, gone at my house this time of year - the last few groups of geese are heading south. We will watch for them to come back in the spring.

 

Do birds over-winter where you are? Can you feed them?

 

If you were an animal, is there a place on your walk that might make a good hiding spot?

 

If you get snow, can you go on a nature walk to look for tracks?

 

Pair the nature walk with something fun inside, too - we have an animal tracks memory match game, for instance.

 

Do you have binoculars?

 

Have you heard of letterboxing? (not exactly nature appreciation, precisely, but has led us on some very interesting nature trails over the years)

 

 

[desertflower]

A spin-off, but a *dear* memory from that age - we wrote out the alphabet (all caps) on a slip of paper, and took our camera out into nature to find "the letters." We found an L-shaped branch first, then an X in the trees, etc. Some of our letters were NOT from nature (we were in a national park), but at that age, it was a neat conversation about what classified as "nature" and what didn't. When we got home from the trip, I collaged the photos into an alphabet poster that we have all admired ever since.

 

 

Scavenger hunts are COOL - give them the letters of their first name, and they have to find something in nature for each of the 5 letters (creative adjectives are fine).

 

Leaf rubbings are cool (especially if you have something fun like chalk or charcoal) - then choose just 1 to identify later.

 

Count the birds.

 

See if the kids can come up with a question about 1 thing they see.

 

Do birds migrate near you? Look for them! Most of them are going, going, gone at my house this time of year - the last few groups of geese are heading south. We will watch for them to come back in the spring.

 

Do birds over-winter where you are? Can you feed them?

 

If you were an animal, is there a place on your walk that might make a good hiding spot?

 

If you get snow, can you go on a nature walk to look for tracks?

 

Pair the nature walk with something fun inside, too - we have an animal tracks memory match game, for instance.

 

Do you have binoculars?

 

Have you heard of letterboxing? (not exactly nature appreciation, precisely, but has led us on some very interesting nature trails over the years)

What great ideas! What is letter boxing?

[Bearcat]

Speaking of apps, does anyone know of an app for plants/trees/flowers? More specifically, one can take a picture of the plant and then scan it on the app to see what it is?

Leaf snap is an app we use to ID leaves and trees.

We also use several of the Audobon apps. They are pricey but we got them when there was a special price. If you are patient they will probably have another deal at some point.

[desertflower]

That's great!  Thank you Bearcat!

[Kalmia]

I always let nature be the guide. Don't go out with preconceived lesson plans. Let what you discover out there inspire the learning. Take photos. When you return home you can use field guides to look up identities. Also get picture books from the library about creatures you have encountered. Let them dig and play.

 

Here are a few nice resources for young children:

 

Small Wonders by Linda Garrett

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Wonders-Nature-Education-Children/dp/1584655747/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414940026&sr=1-9&keywords=hands+on+nature
 

Nature for the Very Young by Marcia Bowden (curriculum)

http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Very-Young-Handbook-Activities/dp/047162084X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414939659&sr=8-1&keywords=nature+for+the+very+young

 

Hands On Nature by Jenepher Lingelbach (curriculum)

http://www.amazon.com/Hands-On-Nature-Information-Activities-Environment/dp/1584650788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414939807&sr=8-1&keywords=hands+on+nature

 

Nature Hikes Golden Books (vintage Golden Book read aloud: just read a short section each day)

http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Exploring-Earth-Book-Adventure/dp/B001V0MTKM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414939872&sr=8-1&keywords=nature+hikes+a+golden+exploring+earth+book

 

And my book (which I hope it is okay to mention as it is on topic) from Royal Fireworks Press. Nature Study for the Whole Family (not a curriculum but a philosophic "how and why" of nature study with plenty of examples of nature study in action and the benefits of nature study)

http://www.rfwp.com/series/nature-study-by-laurel-dodge#book-nature-study-for-the-whole-family

 

 

[desertflower]

Thank you Kalmia for mentioning your book. 

 

I'm just not that creative and yes I did let the kids just play in the dirt for a while now.  however, I get tired of saying "I don't know" to their questions.  Often times I like to look up the info right then and there if I don't know something because I don't like just saying I don't know like I don't care.  But in the woods reception is not great.  :) 

 

I've got some great ideas here! 

 

On another note, I've been sick so I have had time to make up a new name.  :)  A little more creative than my original JMcElrath.  lol

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

See if your library has the book "The Listening Walk"- it's a picture book.  We love to read this, then go on our own "listening walk"- the idea (obviously...) is to be silent and just listen- leaves crunching, wind blowing, birds calling, etc, etc.  This technique really calms my kids down and perks their ears up! 

 

As mentioned up thread, engage all the senses.  Try to identify smells, be it a freshly manured field, rain on dirt, flowers, dry leaves... 

 

If you know of any edible plants in the area... eat them.  Blackberries and hazelnuts are the only ones in my neighborhood that I'm comfortable identifying, but when we find them, we eat them!  Kids love it. 

 

 

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

PS.  One of my favorite nature walks was when my kids decided to spend 45 minutes "sweeping" a dirt trail clean with fallen leafy branches.  It was such an exercise in futility, but they loved it!  lol.  The whole time they were making up stories about how it'd be easier for the wild animals to use now, how the leaves on the side would be mice nests...  They also routinely build little lean-to structure out of sticks and branches that they hope some animal will come and use.  It's adorable.  The point is to get them interacting with the natural environment, not necessarily to do science. 

[Lucy the Valiant]

Another fun thing to do is to make "nature art" for someone else to find. (Arrange sticks in a zig-zag pattern, etc.)

[Rosie_0801]

On another note, I've been sick so I have had time to make up a new name.  :)  A little more creative than my original JMcElrath.  lol

 

To mark the occasion, here's a pic of my favourite desert flower :)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainsona_formosa

[desertflower]

To mark the occasion, here's a pic of my favourite desert flower :)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swainsona_formosa

I've never seen a plant like this one before. Thank you for sharing. :)

[desertflower]

Another fun thing to do is to make "nature art" for someone else to find. (Arrange sticks in a zig-zag pattern, etc.)

Oooooooooh. I like this one. :)