The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

Foundations for science
Activities and Strategies
for Development
Mother Nature’s Gifts
Here are ways for the children to use their senses to explore the natural world
around them:
• Take a basket outdoors and let the children collect “nature’s gifts” (that are
safe!) such as pine cones, bird feathers, leaves, and flowers. Let the children
look at, touch, and smell them as you talk about each one. Put them in your
basket to bring indoors. Put them in a safe place to explore another time.
Always supervise this activity. Follow this with another activity like Those
Falling Leaves.
• As the children watch, put grass, dirt, a few leaves, and a small piece of bread
in a clear, plastic container. Lay the container on its side and leave it outside
overnight. Check the next morning to see if any “bugs” have crawled inside.
Put a piece of cloth across the top with a strong rubber band to hold it
tightly in place. Punch a few small holes for air. Bring the “bug farm” inside so
the children can watch the insects. Put it where they can see it but cannot
pick it up without your supervision. Release the insects at the end of the day.
• Blow bubbles by dipping a fly swatter in a pan of bubbles. Watch the children
chase and try to catch the tiny bubbles as they float up and down in
the breeze. Use words like “wind,” “floating,” “high,” and “low” when you talk
about this fun experience. Let the children try to shake the fly swatter to
make more bubbles!
• Make a simple terrarium with a two-liter plastic drink bottle. Remove the
label, cut off the bottom, and put soil and a plant in it. Water the plant and
squeeze the top of the drink bottle back on. Tape it securely all around. Put
this where you and the children can watch it grow! See Dig It! 3 pages away
for another activity to go with this one.
•
If you have a tree outside your window, ask someone to donate a bird feeder
and bird seed. Let the children help put the bird seed in the feeder. Watch
and listen to the birds and squirrels that come for a snack!
Talk to the children as you explore these activities together. Encourage them to
try to name all that they see, touch, hear, and smell.
Special Needs Tip
Help a child in a wheelchair hold the “bug farm” in her lap for
the other children to see. This should put the jar at the other
children’s eye level.
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