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Week 4: Wonder Walk

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Kindergarten
Duration 25 minutes
Lesson Type Single-Week
STREAM Focus S (Science), R (Religion), A (Art)

Week 4: Wonder Walk

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Use their senses to observe the natural world 2. Identify at least 3 different things in nature (living and non-living) 3. Ask "wonder questions" about what they observe 4. Record observations through simple drawing

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Express wonder at God's creation 2. Recognize that everything in nature was made by God 3. Thank God for the beauty of the natural world

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Stewardship of Creation — God created the world and everything in it. He gave humans the special job of taking care of creation. When we observe nature carefully, we see God's amazing design and learn to appreciate His gifts.

Scripture Connection

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." — Genesis 1:31

Saint Connection

St. Francis of Assisi — St. Francis loved all of God's creatures. He called animals his brothers and sisters and saw God's love in every part of creation.

Wonder Question

"Have you ever wondered why there are so many different kinds of leaves? Or why some flowers smell so nice?"

📚 Materials and Preparation

Materials Needed

Item Quantity Source
Clipboards 1 per student Classroom
Wonder Walk recording sheet 1 per student Teacher-made
Crayons (small boxes) 1 per student Classroom
Magnifying glasses 1 per 2 students STREAM supplies
Collection bags (paper) 1 per student Optional

Location Requirements

  • Outdoor space (schoolyard, garden, nature area)

  • Backup: Walk around building interior looking at plants, windows to nature

Teacher Preparation

  • Scout outdoor location for safety and interesting nature items

  • Check weather and plan backup if needed

  • Prepare Wonder Walk recording sheets (divided into 4 boxes)

  • Gather clipboards and crayons

  • Charge camera/iPad for optional documentation

  • Review rules for outdoor exploration

📝 Lesson Procedure

⏱️ Timing Guide (25 minutes)

Section Time Activity
Opening Prayer & Introduction 4 min Prayer and wonder question
Wonder Walk 15 min Outdoor exploration
Sharing & Closing 6 min Share discoveries, prayer

1. Opening Prayer & Introduction (4 minutes)

Gather students before going outside.

Prayer:

"Dear God, thank you for the beautiful world You created. Open our eyes to see the wonderful things You made. Help us to notice things we've never seen before. Amen."

Introduction:

"Today we're going on a Wonder Walk! Scientists observe — that means they look carefully at things. We're going to be scientists today and look carefully at God's creation."

Review expectations:

  • Walk quietly so we can hear nature sounds

  • Stay with the group

  • Look with your eyes first, touch gently

  • Don't pick flowers or hurt anything

Show recording sheet:

"You'll draw 4 things you see. Try to find something that's alive, something that's NOT alive, something small, and something beautiful."

2. Wonder Walk (15 minutes)

Lead students outside in a line. Walk slowly.

At first stopping point (5 min):

"Let's stop here. Look around. What do you notice? What do you see that God made?"

Guide observations:

  • "Look up — what do you see?"

  • "Look down — what's on the ground?"

  • "Listen — what do you hear?"

  • "Use your magnifying glass — what looks different when it's bigger?"

First drawing: Give students 2-3 minutes to draw something they see.

Continue walking (5 min):

Second stopping point:

"What's different here? Do you see anything alive?"

Guide with wonder questions:

  • "I wonder why that leaf has so many lines on it..."

  • "I wonder how that ant knows where to go..."

  • "I wonder who made that spider web..."

Second drawing: Give students 2-3 minutes to draw another observation.

Final walk and drawings: Complete 4 drawings during the walk, stopping at interesting features.

Wonder Questions to ask: | If you see... | Ask... | |--------------|--------| | A flower | "I wonder why God made flowers so colorful?" | | A bug | "I wonder how such a tiny creature knows what to do?" | | A tree | "I wonder how old this tree is?" | | Clouds | "I wonder why clouds make different shapes?" | | A bird | "I wonder how birds know how to build nests?" |

3. Sharing & Closing (6 minutes)

Return inside. Gather in a circle.

Share discoveries:

"Turn to a partner. Show them one thing you drew and tell them about it."

Whole group sharing:

  • "Who found something alive? What was it?"

  • "Who found something NOT alive?"

  • "What was the most beautiful thing you saw?"

  • "Does anyone have a wonder question about something they saw?"

Record wonder questions on the Wonder Wall.

Faith Connection:

"Everything we saw today was made by God! Even the tiniest bug and the biggest tree. God made each thing special and important. We are SO lucky to live in such a beautiful world!"

Closing Prayer:

"Thank you, God, for the beautiful world. Thank you for trees and flowers and bugs and birds. Help us to take care of Your creation. Amen."

Optional: Teach the first verse of "All Things Bright and Beautiful"

✅ Assessment

Observation Checklist

Skill Observed
Made at least 4 observations ☐
Used senses to explore ☐
Drew recognizable nature items ☐
Asked or responded to wonder questions ☐
Connected observations to God's creation ☐

Success Criteria

  • Student draws 4 items from nature

  • Student shares at least one observation

  • Student expresses wonder or curiosity

🔄 Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Pair with a buddy for the walk

  • Pre-draw box outlines with prompts (draw a leaf, draw a bug, etc.)

  • Adult helper to scribe dictated observations

  • Shorter walk with fewer stopping points

For Advanced Learners

  • Label drawings with beginning sounds/words

  • Count items (3 brown things, 5 green things)

  • Compare and contrast two items found

  • Create additional wonder questions

🌧️ Backup Plan: Indoor Nature Exploration

If weather doesn't permit outdoor walk:

  1. Window Observations — Look out windows, draw what you see
  2. Nature Table — Set up items (leaves, pinecones, rocks) for observation
  3. Virtual Walk — Use nature video/photos to observe
  4. Classroom Plant Study — Observe classroom plants with magnifying glasses

📎 Extensions

Wonder Journal Entry

Have students glue their Wonder Walk sheet into their Wonder Journal and add one sentence (dictated or written): "I wonder..."

Art Extension

  • Create nature rubbings with crayons and leaves

  • Make a classroom "Creation Collage" with nature drawings

Home Connection

Family Note:

"Today we went on a Wonder Walk to observe God's creation. Take a Wonder Walk in your neighborhood this weekend! Ask your child to show you 3 things they think are beautiful and to tell you one 'I wonder' question."

🆘 Substitute Teacher Notes

Simplified version: 1. Do opening prayer inside 2. Walk around the building, looking out windows 3. Stop at 3 places to draw 4. Return and share one drawing each 5. Closing prayer thanking God for creation

Key phrase to use:

"God made everything we see. Let's look carefully at His amazing creation!"

📖 Vocabulary

Word Definition Visual Cue
Observe To look carefully and notice things Eyes wide open
Wonder To think about something and want to know more Question mark
Creation Everything God made Earth, plants, animals
Nature The world around us — plants, animals, sky, water Trees and flowers
Living Things that grow, breathe, and need food Plant, animal
Non-living Things that don't grow or need food Rock, sidewalk

📋 Wonder Walk Recording Sheet

+---------------------------------------------------------+
|                     MY WONDER WALK                      |
|                   Name: ____________                    |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+
|                           |                             |
|   Something ALIVE         |   Something NOT alive       |
|                           |                             |
|                           |                             |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+
|                           |                             |
|   Something SMALL         |   Something BEAUTIFUL       |
|                           |                             |
|                           |                             |
+---------------------------+-----------------------------+
| I wonder... ___________________________________________ |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

Lesson Version: 1.1
Last Updated: 2025-12-05