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Resources
A blanket or paper to place leaves on, tree identification book (if
needed),
different shaped leaves
Where
Indoors (if materials previously collected). Outdoors in a clearing.
E.g. Skinny Woods / Hunters Hall
Park, Hawkhill Wood, Innocent
Walkway, Craigmillar Castle
Park.
Why
To emphasise tree diversity, to introduce children to tree identification and to help them remember
the names and characteristics of the different trees.
How
Go for a short walk, collecting leaves on the way, pointing out their
different characteristics and naming them. (e.g. ‘This one with curvy
edges is an oak leaf ’ or ‘This smooth one is a beech leaf’)
Collect about ten different leaves. Place the leaves on the blanket and
refresh everyone’s memory as to the names of the trees and
distinguishing characters of their leaf. Then divide the group into two
teams. Line up the teams, opposite each other across the
blanket. In dry weather, or indoors, they can sit down. Number each
member in the team from 1 to however many there are, so that each team
member on each team has a number 1, 2, etc. and a corresponding number
in the opposite team. Then, call out the name of
a leaf, together with a descriptive word / phrase (e.g. ‘a curvy oak
leaf’, or ‘ a smooth beech leaf’) and shout a number. Both
children from that pair (on each team) must run to pick up the correct
leaf and bring it to you. If the wrong leaf is brought to you, a
point is deducted from that team's score. But if the right leaf is
collected, the team member scores a point for their team.
Nature ID Game is the same game, only played with
any natural objects, such as leaves, feathers, pine cones,
flowers, old snail shells, etc. Its purpose is to introduce children to
a variety of natural objects that they may not know the names of, or have
never seen before. It also encourages them to look more closely at
these objects and enhances their knowledge and understanding of the
natural world. |
