Lesson Plans on Nature for Children

Children learn the study of nature through creative nature lessons plans.

Without green foliage, water and air, human beings would die. Children are struck by the gravity of this message and puzzled. The idea of trees determining life or death appears absurd. Nature lesson plans bridge the gap between ideas and the abstract. An inventive nature curriculum allows hands-on contact with the environment. Children observe, experiment, track and process through nature lesson planning. Appreciation of the environment evolves naturally with lessons that foster understanding of nature's ecosystems.

Astronomy

Children are often mystified by the solar system.

Comets, stars and the galaxy mystify children. Astronomy, the study of the solar system, is nature's exploration of the skies. Expand children's imaginations and theories with a create-your-own-planet activity. Give children construction paper and scissors, and instruct them to cut planet shapes. Tell children to offer a hypothesis or an educated guess for the shapes of their planets. Create a Milky Way, using black poster board, luminous paint and glitter. Have children paint pieces of the galaxy poster board with luminous paint. Turn off the lights to see the Milky Way glow in the dark. A field trip to a planetarium brings an exciting dimension to an astronomy unit.

Marine Biology

Children can unearth natural treasures from the sea.

Since water covers more than half of the planet and is a vital resource, the study of the ocean is significant. Conservation of ocean life, sea animals, and plants are concepts studied in marine biology. Describe and detail the life of different sea animals that live in the ocean. Combine this lesson with a class trip to the beach. Arrange children into pairs with small pails or sacks for a sea-treasure hunt. Instruct children to pick up shells, pebbles, drift wood and other natural resources from the sea. Encourage children to make sculptures of sea animals from the natural sea resources.

Earth Science

Adopt a plot in a community garden and help the children plant vegetables.

Earth science relates to the study of the earth. Give each child a plastic cup and three beans. Help the children spoon soil into their cups. Place the cups in a well-lit area and have the children monitor their plant's growth. Arrange the class into three groups. Give each group a different type of bean to compare progress.

Have the children watch caterpillars change into cocoons and emerge as butterflies with a commercial butterfly kit. Take the class to a park to release the butterflies. Order an incubator and eggs for baby chicks to hatch. Contribute to a community garden and grow vegetables with the class.

Holidays

A class can plant a small tree for Tu B'Shvat or Earth Day.

Holidays contribute significantly to a nature curriculum. Plant a small tree in honor of Tu B'Shvat, an Israeli holiday celebrating the Festival of Trees. Adopt a tree in a local park with your class. Ask the students to write on recycled paper a poem for the adopted. Explain that recycled paper comes from trees.

Earth Day is a holiday created to teach conscientious care for the earth. Invite children to bring items from their recycle bin at home and create usable art. For example, a piggy bank can be made out of a milk carton. Make a class recycle bin and invite children to visit it and re-use the materials.

References

• KidsAstronomy.com: Make A Planet, Astronomy Games Kids
• The Educator's Reference Desk: Bringing the Solar System to Life
• Earth's Kids: Oceans and Marine Life
• Sea World Busch Gardens: Just for Teachers
• The Teachers Guide: Earth Day Themes Lesson Plans and Printouts
• School of the Seasons: Tu B'Shvat Birthday of the Trees

Resources

• Lessons Plans: Underwater Study Marine Biology
• Marine Biology Lesson Plans
• National Geographic: US Marine Sanctuaries Expeditions
• Project Wet:: WorldWide Water Education
• Discovery Education : Earth Science Lessons Plans:
• Environmental Protection Agency: Earth Day for Kids
• Buttefly-Kit: Grow 2 Kinds of Butterflies
• Discover This: Ant Farms Bugs and Insects
• Gamebird:Com :Hatching Quail Eggs and Education in the Classroom