Barbara Bush Elementary Nature Center

What is an Animal?

skills: observation, classification

As an early lesson, walk around the center identifying items that are animals and compare them to items that are not (plants, rocks). What are special needs of animals? food, shelter, water, air Do rocks and plants need those items?

Sounds of Animals

skill: observation

What are the sounds of animals? Of those sounds which ones are heard in the center? Practice imitating the sounds of animals found in the center.

Play “I Spy”

skill: observation

ex: I spy an animal that lives on trees. Students then use observation skills to locate the desired object.

Out of Place Hunt

skill: observation

First go into the center and place various “non-Nature Center” items around the areas close to the pathways. Examples of “out of place” items include a shoe, book, a toy, a coin, a block, etc. Tell the students that there are ___ number of objects that do not belong in the center. They must stay on the pathways and try to locate what is out of place. Either students can walk around as a class and call out the out of place items or they can walk around in small groups and mentally record the out of place items. Then, in a large group the students may share their responses. Ask the students why the out of place items are not normally found in nature.

Animals in the Nature Center

skills: observation, classification

Walk around the pathways and try to find many different animals. The quieter you are the greater your chance of observing animals. Meet at one of the seating areas and discuss what animals were found and where. How did you know what you found were animals? Make a list of the animals and include the date. Do this activity a few times and compare the lists of the animals found on different dates. Why were some animals not found every time you visited the center

Animals in the Nature Center Book

skills: observation, classification, recording data

Using the student generated lists of animals found in the center, every student will have a piece of paper with the following at the bottom:

An animal I have seen in the Nature Center is _____________________.
In the space above that the students will draw a picture of the animal. These pages can be bound into a class book. This can serve as a “Kindergarten Field Guide of Animals of the Nature Center”.

Wildlife is Everywhere

skill: observation

Start in the classroom and find signs (actual animal, it’s home, droppings) of animals. Signs could include: spiders, webs, roaches, droppings, ants, roly-polies, flies. Go to the Nature Center and look for signs of animals. Were any animals found in both places? Why? Why are there animals in the classroom?

Outdoor Experiences

skills: observation, recording data

The following activities can be incorporated into one or many lessons.

After making observations in the center, gather everyone together in a circle. Compose a class journal of shared thoughts by passing a “talking stone” around the circle. The person holding the stone shares his/her observations.
Bring paper and colors into the center and have the students record their favorite observations. Date these papers and do again to create student journals.
Make a collage out of magazine pictures or natural materials to show discoveries.
In the center, have the students find a comfortable place to sit. What animals do you predict you will hear? For one to two minutes the students will sit quietly with their eyes closed and listen for the sounds of animals. Gather the class together and share what was heard and in what direction. Compare predicted animals with actual animal sounds. What do you think the animals were saying?

Farm Animals vs. Nature Center Animals

skills: observation, comparison

Using the Farm and Ranch Coloring Book provided by the TX Farm Bureau
(P.O. box 2689; Waco TX 76702-2689, I also have one copy) compare animals that are on farms and in the wild. This is a good tie in with a trip to the Livestock Show.

Where’s the Habitat?

skills: observation, making models

Sing the following to the tune of “Frere Jacques”. While singing the song the students will also act out the animal movements. After singing and acting through this song a few times try and create your own verses. Song created by National Wildlife Federation.

Leader: Where’s the rabbit? Where’s the rabbit?
All: Here I am. Here I am.
Leader: Meadow grass is soft and deep.
All: That’s where rabbits hop and leap. Hop away, leap away.
Leader: Where’s the monkey? Where’s the monkey?
All: Here I am. Here I am.
Leader: Jungle trees are towering
All: That’s where monkeys climb and swing. Climb away, swing away.
Leader: Where’s the lizard? Where’s the lizard?
All: Here I am. Here I am.
Leader: Desert sands get lots of sun.
All: That’s where lizards crawl and run. Crawl away, run away.
Leader: Where’s the gator? Where’s the gator?
All: Here I am. Here I am.
Leader: Swampy water’s dark and dim.
All: That’s where gators creep and swim. Creep away, swim away.

Nature Books

skills: observation, recording data

The following books are great for their portrayal of animals.

Nuts to You! by Lois Ehlert - It is about a visiting squirrel.
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh - It is about a snake counting the mice it catches. The mice outsmart the snake and live!
The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book and The Icky Bug Alphabet Book both by Jerry Pallotta - While studying the alphabet these books and at least 6 others in the series contain wonderful pictures and descriptions of animals for each letter.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - The eating habits and life cycle of a caterpillar.