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Session 05: Nature Exploration 🌳

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 5 of 17

Students explore God's creation outdoors (or with nature items), practicing scientific observation and recording discoveries.

Session 05: Nature Exploration

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Practice scientific observation skills

  • Record observations in their journals

  • Identify living vs. non-living things

  • Appreciate the diversity of God's creation

Session 05: Nature Exploration

Materials Needed

  • 📦 Magnifying glasses

  • 📓 Engineering/Nature journals

  • 🖍️ Pencils, colored pencils

  • 📋 Observation checklist

  • 🌿 Collection bags (paper bags)

  • 📸 Camera (optional for documentation)

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Kateri Tekakwitha — The first Native American saint, she loved nature and saw God's beauty in all creation.

Scripture

"Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you." — Job 12:7

Opening Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the beautiful world outside our door. Open our eyes to see the amazing things you've made. Help us be good scientists who notice and wonder. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (4 minutes)

  1. Scientist Observation — "Scientists look carefully and ask questions"
  2. Living vs. Non-Living:
  3. Living: grows, needs food/water, can reproduce (plants, animals)
  4. Non-living: doesn't grow, doesn't need food (rocks, water, air)
  5. Today's Mission — "We're going to be nature scientists!"
  6. Rules Review — Stay together, observe don't disturb, be gentle

Main Activity: Nature Investigation (20 minutes)

Option A: Outdoor Exploration (weather permitting)

Part 1: Observation Walk (8 minutes)

  • Walk slowly around school grounds

  • Notice: What do you see? Hear? Smell?

  • Look for:

  • Living things (plants, insects, birds)
  • Non-living things (rocks, water, man-made)

  • Signs of animals (tracks, nests, holes)

  • Use magnifying glasses for close-ups

Part 2: Recording (7 minutes)

  • Stop at a spot to draw and write

  • Journal pages:

  • Draw 2 living things you found
  • Draw 2 non-living things you found
  • Write one "I wonder..." question

Part 3: Collection (5 minutes)

  • Collect ONE nature item (already fallen—don't pick living plants)

  • Bring back to share

Option B: Indoor Investigation (inclement weather)

  • Nature items brought inside

  • Nature videos/photos

  • Window observations

Engineering Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Complete observation drawings
  2. Label: Living (L) or Non-living (NL)
  3. Write biggest discovery

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Share Collections — What did you find?
  2. Questions — Share "I wonder..." questions
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for every leaf, bug, and rock in your creation. Help us take care of this beautiful world. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Participated in outdoor exploration

  • Correctly identified living/non-living

  • Recorded observations in journal

  • Asked questions about nature

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Observation partner

  • Checklist of things to find (with pictures)

  • Focus on drawing rather than writing

For Advanced Students

  • Record multiple "I wonder" questions

  • Classify items in more detail

  • Start a nature collection

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Take a nature walk in your neighborhood or at a park. Bring a journal and draw what you see. Collect items (that are already on the ground) for a nature display at home.

Teacher Notes

  • Scout location before lesson

  • Have backup indoor plan ready

  • Remind students about insect safety, plant allergies

  • Great connection to science curriculum

Previous: Session 04 — Robot Friends
Next: Session 06 — Thanksgiving Service