Oh, what a wonderful world!
Overview: Using all five senses, let’s explore the wonders of the natural world! Through a series of outdoor games, educational stories and interactive activities, the budding scientists will experience local natural areas in all weather conditions, follow their curiosities, ask questions and explore the concept of respect.
This lesson plan is based on the new Alberta Curriculum as of 2023.
The Future Leaders program is pleased to provide the relevant course materials and instruction.
We encourage teachers to recreate these sessions.
Key terms:
Respect
Wildlife
Materials: Bum pads
Time commitment: 3hrs (2x1.5 hr sessions) offered year-round
Format: Outdoors in all weather and seasons (cold cutoff is -18C. Programs may be shortened, hybrid or completely indoors to accommodate for inclement weather)
Teacher Expectations: parent communication, program supervision and participation, access to washrooms and classroom space (in case programs need to move indoors due to weather), class headcount, emergency contacts and submit a short post-program impact statement.
Subject: Science
Organizing Idea: Earth Systems
Learning Outcome: Children examine and describe surrounding environments
Skills & Procedures:
Use the senses to make observations about environments.
Ask questions about surrounding environments.
Demonstrate respect while interacting with environments.
Represent a local environment in nature.
LESSON PLAN
Session 1 - OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
Game [20mins]: Bug-Bug-Bat
Bats have evolved an advanced method of echolocation (navigating by sound reverberations) to detect their prey. In this iteration of the duck-duck-goose, students sit in a circle and take turns tapping heads around the circle until a ‘bat’ is chosen. The chosen student rises and runs in the opposite direction returning back to their original position. Whomever returns back to seated position first is safe, the other continues tapping heads to choose another opponent. The follow-up discussion explores how humans and the non-human world use their sense of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell to navigate their surroundings.
Sharing Circle [10mins]: I Notice
Students are invited to go for a short wander, find a natural item they are curious about and bring it back to the circle. Each student has the chance to share, “I notice __________?” statements about their object.
Activity [20mins]: Treasure Chest
Pairs of students wander with an egg carton and collect items to match those that are already in the carton. Items such as leaves, needles, rocks and bark demonstrate the conversation about textures (i.e. soft, hard, squishy, scratchy, smooth). Pairs of students take turns presenting to their peers. Peers have the chance to ask questions about the presentation.
Break [10mins]: Honourable Harvest
Over a snack and drink break, students discuss the principles of the Honourable Harvest (i.e. not taking the first nor the last, asking permission, reciprocating the gift, only taking what you need, sharing the gift etc.). Follow-up conversation asking students, “how do you show respect?”
Activity [20mins]: Free Play
This is a chance for students to explore the natural world at their own pace and through their own interests. Authentic connection and concept understanding transpires through self-directed play.
Sharing Circle [10mins]: Recap activities, song and sharing a reflection. “Think of a person you are excited to see. Hold them in your mind’s eye. What are you going to tell them about your afternoon today?”
Session 2 - OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
Game [20mins]: Musical Perch
The rhythm of the seasons guide the natural world. Students are asked to brainstorm animals that live in the area. They are then asked to choose an animal to embody. In an open area, the instructor beats a rhythm on a drum and students move their feet/hands to the beat embodying the animal of their choice (e.g. flapping like a raven, hopping like a snowshoe hare). Students speed up or slow down relative to the beat. When the beat suddenly stops, students must freeze or ‘perch’ in place. Whoever is seen moving when the beat stops must do five jumping jacks before resuming as their animal of choice. The follow-up discussion explores how animals respond to sound in the environment.
Sharing Circle [10mins]: I wonder
Students are invited to go for a short wander, find a natural item they are curious about and bring it back to the circle. To engage their curiosity, each student has the chance to ask the object and share “I wonder__________?” questions.
Activity [20mins]: Miniature Park
Using natural materials, students are directed to design a miniature park that they would want to visit. Students may work solo or in pairs. Students must consider what animals, plants and other life forms they share this place with and how their needs will be met in this park. After each student/pairing develops their miniature park, students take turns with show & tell of the various parks.
Break [10mins]: The Trouble with Wonder
Over a snack and drink break, students are asked to share a time where they wandered, lost track of time, or didn’t follow directions - sometimes following the wonder gets us into trouble! What did they do? How did they get back to safety? How did it feel?
Activity [20mins]: Free Play
This is a chance for students to explore the natural world at their own pace and through their own interests. Authentic connection and concept understanding transpires through self-directed play and experiential learning.
Sharing circle [10mins]: Turning up the Corners of My Mouth
Students will reflect on their time outside and think of a moment that made them smile. Each student will have the chance to share the moment that “turned up the corners of their mouth”.