Objective

By the end of this lesson, Elisabeth will learn about the importance of dens in the forest and how to create her own imaginative den using natural materials.

Materials and Prep

• Outdoor space like a backyard or nearby park
• Natural materials such as sticks, leaves, rocks, and moss
• Comfortable clothing and shoes for outdoor exploration
• Enthusiasm and creativity!

Activities

• Nature Walk: Take a walk in the forest or park to observe different types of dens created by animals. Discuss the purpose of dens in nature.
• Collecting Materials: Encourage Elisabeth to gather sticks, leaves, rocks, and moss to use in building her own den.
• Building a Den: Help Elisabeth construct her own den using the collected materials. Let her imagination run wild!
• Imaginative Play: Once the den is built, encourage Elisabeth to role-play scenarios in her den, such as pretending to be a bear hibernating for winter.

Talking Points

• "Dens are like special homes for animals. They keep them safe and cozy."
• "Animals use different materials to build their dens. What materials do you think would make a good den for a squirrel?"
• "Let's work together to build our own den. How should we start? Maybe with a strong base of sticks?"
• "Now that our den is ready, what animals do you think would visit or live in our den? Let's pretend to be those animals!"