Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand and apply basic arithmetic concepts while exploring and observing nature.

Materials and Prep

• Pen or pencil
• Paper or notebook
• Nature journal (optional)

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Counting Nature Objects

   Go outside and find different objects in nature, such as leaves, flowers, or rocks. Count how many objects you find and write down the numbers in your notebook or nature journal. Practice counting aloud as you collect the objects.

2. Addition with Nature Objects

   Choose two different types of nature objects, such as pinecones and seashells. Collect a certain number of each object and write down the numbers. Then, add the two numbers together to find the total. For example, if you have 3 pinecones and 2 seashells, the total would be 5. Practice saying the addition sentence aloud.

3. Subtraction with Nature Objects

   Choose two different types of nature objects again. Collect a certain number of each object and write down the numbers. This time, subtract the smaller number from the larger number to find the difference. For example, if you have 5 flowers and 2 leaves, the difference would be 3. Practice saying the subtraction sentence aloud.

Preschool Grade Talking Points

• "Mathematics is all around us, even in nature!"
• "We can count the objects we find in nature to see how many there are."
• "When we add two numbers together, we find the total."
• "When we subtract one number from another, we find the difference."
• "Let's practice counting and doing simple addition and subtraction using nature objects."