In preparation for Children’s Book Week, which takes place from the 6th to the 12th of November, Teach Outdoors are excited to share some creative ideas for using popular children’s books to promote outdoor learning. Reading is a gateway to imagination and exploration, and what better way to celebrate than by taking the learning experience outdoors? In this blog post, we’ll explore outdoor activities inspired by five fantastic children’s books that will help you, as teachers, connect your pupils with the natural world.
1. “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle:
Activity: The Journey of a Seed
Objective: To learn about the life cycle of plants and inspire an interest in gardening.
Materials Needed: Seeds (sunflower, bean, or any fast-growing plant), small pots or containers, soil, gardening tools, watering cans.
Procedure:
- Begin by reading “The Tiny Seed” to the class, discussing the journey of the tiny seed through the seasons.
- Take your class outdoors to a designated garden area. If your school doesn’t have a garden, use pots or containers for planting.
- Have your class plant their own seeds, following the steps outlined in the book. Encourage them to take care of their plants and observe them regularly. Broad Beans and Sweet Peas would be a good choice at this time of year.
- As the plants grow, discuss the changes they notice, just like the seed in the book. The children can journal their observations and create drawings or diagrams of their plants at different stages.
2. “The Listening Walk” by Paul Showers:
Activity: Sensory Nature Exploration
Objective: To encourage children to use their senses to connect with nature.
Materials Needed: Clipboards, paper, pencils, and any outdoor space with natural sounds (a park, school garden, or nearby woods).
Procedure:
- Read “The Listening Walk” and discuss the concept of a listening walk with your class.
- Take your class on a real listening walk. Provide each student with a clipboard and ask them to record the sounds they hear during the walk. This could include birdsong, rustling leaves, flowing water, and more.
- Return to the classroom and ask each child to share their favourite sound from the walk. Discuss how different sounds make them feel and what they observed about nature through sound.
- You could use the observations made to create art or poetry inspired by the sounds they heard during their listening walk.
3. “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown:
Activity: Robot Survival Challenge
Objective: To spark discussions about wildlife, ecosystems, and environmental conservation.
Materials Needed: Outdoor area with natural elements (e.g., woods, fields, or a school garden).
Procedure:
- Read “The Wild Robot” and discuss the adventures of Roz, the robot, in the wild.
- Challenge your class to become “wild robots” for a day. Divide them into groups and provide each group with a set of challenges related to survival in a natural environment. Challenges could include building a shelter, identifying edible plants, and tracking animal prints.
- Let the students explore the outdoor space while completing their challenges. Emphasise the importance of leaving no trace and respecting the environment.
- After the activity, gather students to reflect on what they’ve learned about nature, teamwork, and the importance of protecting the environment.
4. “Over and Under the Pond” by Kate Messner:
Activity: Pond Ecosystem Investigation
Objective: To teach children about aquatic life and the interconnectedness of nature.
Materials Needed: Access to a pond or water feature, nets, containers for collecting water samples, magnifying glasses, field guides.
Procedure:
- Begin by reading “Over and Under the Pond” and discussing the different animals and plants that inhabit pond ecosystems.
- Take your class to a nearby pond or water feature. Provide them with nets and containers for collecting water samples.
- Encourage children to carefully collect samples from the water and examine them using magnifying glasses. Have field guides on hand to help identify the creatures they find.
- Discuss the interconnectedness of the pond ecosystem and how each organism plays a role in the balance of nature.
- Ask the children to create a pond ecosystem diagram to document their findings.
5. ”The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever” by H. Joseph Hopkins:
Activity: Tree Identification and Appreciation
Objective: To instil an appreciation for trees, their importance in the environment, and the value of urban green spaces.
Materials Needed: Field guides to local trees, notebooks, pencils, magnifying glasses, outdoor space with trees, art supplies.
Procedure:
- Begin by reading “The Tree Lady” and discussing the story of Kate Sessions and her dedication to trees and urban greenery.
- Take your class outdoors to an area with a variety of trees. If possible, visit a local park, arboretum, or school grounds with a diverse tree population.
- Provide children with field guides to local trees and encourage them to identify and sketch different tree species. Discuss the unique characteristics of each tree they encounter.
- Have children take notes about the benefits of trees, including their role in providing oxygen, shade, and habitats for wildlife.
- Organise a tree-themed art activity. Ask students to create tree-inspired artwork, such as leaf rubbings, tree bark rubbings, or tree-themed paintings.
- Consider organising a tree-planting event at your school or in the local community, involving students in the process and reinforcing the idea of planting and caring for trees.
If you are inspired by our book-related activities, did you know that you can receive one every month, with our Nature Nurture subscription service? For all the details, visit: https://mycpdgroup.com/courses/nature-nurture-embark-on-a-journey-of-outdoor-discovery-with-your-mini-explorers/
