Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic concepts of Earth Science related to hiking.

Materials and Prep

• Outdoor space for hiking (backyard, nearby park, etc.)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Snacks

Before starting the lesson, make sure you have a safe outdoor area for hiking and gather all the necessary materials.

Activities

• Introduction to Hiking: Talk to your child about hiking and explain that it is a fun activity where we explore nature by walking on trails.
• Observing Nature: During the hike, encourage your child to observe the plants, trees, and animals they see. Ask them questions about what they notice.
• Collecting Rocks: Encourage your child to collect interesting rocks they find along the way. Discuss the different shapes, colors, and textures of the rocks.
• Identifying Trees: Teach your child how to identify different types of trees by looking at their leaves, bark, and overall shape. Point out examples during the hike.
• Listening to Sounds: Take a moment to sit quietly and listen to the sounds of nature. Ask your child what they hear and discuss the different sounds they can identify.
• Cloud Watching: Look up at the sky and observe the clouds. Talk about the different shapes and how they change over time.
• Mapping the Hike: After the hike, help your child draw a simple map of the trail they walked. Discuss the different landmarks they remember.

Toddler Grade Talking Points

• "Hiking is like going on an adventure in nature."
• "We can see many different plants and animals while hiking."
• "Rocks come in different shapes, colors, and textures. Let's find some interesting ones!"
• "Trees have different leaves and bark. We can learn to recognize them."
• "Nature makes many different sounds. What do you hear?"
• "Clouds are like fluffy shapes in the sky. Let's see what shapes we can find!"
• "We can draw a map to remember the trail we walked on. It's like making our own treasure map!"