Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand basic concepts of Earth Science related to nature.
Materials and Prep
- Pencil and paper
- Access to a backyard or nearby natural area
No prior knowledge is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Take a Nature Walk: Go outside to your backyard or a nearby natural area. Observe the plants, trees, and animals you see. Take notes or draw pictures of anything interesting you find.
- Weather Observation: Spend a few minutes observing the weather. Look at the sky, feel the temperature, and notice any wind or precipitation. Record your observations in a weather journal.
- Rock Collection: Collect different rocks you find during your nature walk. Examine their shapes, colors, and textures. Sort them into categories based on their characteristics.
- Leaf Rubbings: Find some leaves during your nature walk. Place a leaf under a piece of paper and gently rub a crayon over it. See the leaf's shape and details appear on the paper.
- Animal Tracks: Look for animal tracks or footprints during your nature walk. Try to identify the animal that left the tracks. Draw or take pictures of the tracks for further investigation.
Second Grade Talking Points
- "Nature is all around us, and it includes plants, animals, rocks, and more."
- "When we go outside, we can observe and learn about the different things in nature."
- "Weather changes every day. We can look at the sky, feel the temperature, and notice wind or rain to understand the weather."
- "Rocks come in different shapes, colors, and textures. We can collect and examine them to learn more about them."
- "Leaves have unique shapes and details. We can make leaf rubbings to see their features."
- "Animals leave tracks or footprints behind. By studying these tracks, we can learn about the animals that made them."