Nature Activities
Ecological education can happen anywhere.
If you have a tree, a blade of grass, or even just a parking lot, there is space for inquiry and exploration.
As a teacher, inspiring curiosity is a critical first step. By being curious about nature, you are showing those around you that there is an exciting world around us, and plenty to learn!
These examples of tried and true nature activities are a great way to solidify learning; many are self- or group-led, so they are a way for your students to explore for themselves, make discoveries, encounter challenges and ask questions along the way.
Each Activity is marked with a Flow Learning Key: a teaching tool that we use, to help direct energy levels, and work with students to maximize their potential for positive learning.
Activities in Nature
Insect Hunt
Direct Experience
This exploration-based activity fosters curiosity, wonder, and appreciation for microhabitats that exist all around us. This activity can be done with individuals or groups and can take as long as students are interested. A field with long grass yields the best results, but any outdoor space can work- insects are everywhere!
Learning Outcomes: Exploration, searching, observing patterns, attention to detail, tactile skills, team and self-led discovery
Bird Watching Hike
Direct Experience
You do not need to be an expert bird watcher to lead a bird-watching hike. There is a benefit to being as confused and excited as your students. The best time to lead a hike is first thing in the morning. This can be done with anywhere from 1-25 students, and takes about an hour- the longer the better!
A great resource to take along is the 'Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition, by David Allen Sibley (Knopf, 2014).'
Learning Outcomes: Nature discovery, observing patterns, listening, careful listening, birds of PEI, forest wildlife
Building Birds Nests
Focus Attention/Direct Experience/Sharing Inspiration
This craft is an amazing way to encourage many flow learning goals. Using knowledge built from a lesson on birds, students will create a grass and mud nest, resembling a Robin’s nest. This can be done with any number of students and typically takes about 25- 30 minutes, plus time for gathering materials. Do this activity in a space with access to tall grass, and a variety of natural building materials (access to sticks, moss, mud etc).
Learning Outcomes: Birds of PEI, tactile learning, using natural materials as a medium for structure, attention to detail, creativity, understanding the structure of a nest, sharing learning through creation
Raising Tadpoles
Direct Experience
Before collecting tadpoles, it is important to set up the tank. Children love building homes, and creating a healthy habitat for the tadpoles will encourage their interest and compassion for nature. Do this activity with any number of students, and include them in the entire preparation process. This can be an ongoing activity, as the tadpoles will eventually need to be fed, and observing is always exciting, especially when they begin to grow legs and absorb their tail!
Ponding
Direct Experience
This is an exciting activity and an excellent way to encourage students to challenge their comfort zones. Choose a pond that is safe to access, and spend an afternoon exploring all the slippery, slimy elements this ecosystem has to offer. Suitable for smaller or classroom-sized groups.
Learning Outcomes: introduction to pond ecology, habitats, amphibians of PEI, risky play, observation, careful awareness of surroundings
Owl Pellets
Direct Experience
This activity is a wonderful way for children to better understand the digestive system of birds, and explore the anatomy of small rodents. Owl pellets will have to be purchased ahead of time online (which can be found on many different online sites). Printout sorting guides and rodent skeletons help make this activity especially engaging. This can be done with any classroom-size group and typically takes about an hour.
Learning Outcomes: Anatomy of prey birds and small rodents, fine motor skills, matching, hands-on learning, independent work
Micro Hike
Focus Attention
This exploration-based activity allows students to zero in on the micro-habitats that are right beneath their feet! Works with any number of students, up to about 20- and can be done in any natural space, preferably one that has few obstructions so that students can lay on the ground, inspecting their surroundings closely.
Learning Outcomes: Self-led exploration, attention to detail, observing patterns, focus energy, connecting learned material to the physical environment.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Direct Experience
Children love a good scavenger hunt! This activity works best with children working together in teams of two or three. Check the link below for variations for different ages, and experience levels.
Learning Outcomes: teamwork, identification, basic ecology, familiarity with surroundings, increased awareness of native species, time-constrained task
Amazing Meetings
Awaken Enthusiasm
This is a good activity when starting with a new class or beginning a series of nature explorations. It gives the students time to talk about how they feel about nature and provides a baseline for the group. This activity lasts ~20 minutes depending on the size of the group.
Learning Outcomes: Social interaction, sharing experiences, sharing interests, finding common ground, communicating with peers