A naturalist is someone who loves
and appreciates nature and who studies plants and animals as they live in nature. Naturalists often write about their
observations in journals, magazines, and non-fiction books. I chose to pen my
observations in the form of a picture book, Look
What I Can Do!. My goal was to have children see a variety of animals in
their natural habitat, accomplishing tasks and overcoming challenges that are
part of growing up. Illustrator Anna Vojtech has done a wonderful job bringing
my words to life and creating lush spreads filled with color and depth.
What follows is a very basic
science activity with writing tie-ins (for grades K-2). Its purpose is to
increase awareness and respect for the animals in our immediate surroundings.
Introduction
Train your young students in the art
of observation by practicing with common objects. For this activity, they should
use only two senses: seeing and hearing. Allowing children to use only sight
and sound as reference points helps them to stay on task. Plus, later on, when
observing animals, students may be too far to smell them, and of course, they
shouldn’t be encouraged to touch them!
Put
a pencil on every desk.
Using
the questions below, have students create a list (oral or written) based on
what they see and hear.
What color is the object?
What shape is it?
How big is the object?
(Big as a______; Long as a _______; Fat as a _______,
etc.)
What is the object’s placement in the environment?
Does the object make a sound of its own?
Repeat
with three other objects: a watch, a cup of water, a crumpled paper.
Research
Students research three
animals that may be found in the immediate area of the school. They note color,
size, what they eat, their homes, families, and habits.
Activity
The easy part:
Students
choose two to three favorite animals.
Each
student receives a notebook (Naturalist’s Journal) and pencil. A towel or rug
square to sit on comes in handy, too.
Time
to head outside! Students find a place where they are likely to spot one or
more of the animals they have picked.
The hard part:
Students
sit and wait, very quietly. Students
should not coax any animal out with snacks or noises.
The writing:
When
an animal is spotted, students observe and make notes based on sight and sound
only.
They
are not to make up stories (yet).
A
sketch is also appropriate.
Back in the Classroom
Share
and compare findings.
Make
a classroom collage using sketches or cut-out pictures of animals observed.
Create
a map of the observation area. Students add in their animals.
Discuss
non-fiction and fiction, and how facts and research are used in both.
Children
use their detailed observations of animals to write each type of story. Encourage
use of descriptive language with sight and sound elements.
Corresponding Lessons
Five Senses
Habitats
Onomatopoeia
Communities/Neighborhoods
Introduction
to Scientific Method
Nancy Viau is
the author of three nature-inspired books: Look What I Can Do! (Nominated for
the Keystone to Reading Book Award), Storm Song, and Samantha Hansen Has Rocks
in Her Head. Her Fall 2014 title, City Street Beat, invites readers on a
toe-tappin’ musical journey from the country to the city. When not writing,
Nancy can be found hiking, biking, or visiting schools across the country and
around the world (via Skype). Visit her at www.NancyViau.com
