Lesson 4: We Are Different

Materials

My Best Me textbook, writing and coloring utensils, objects from nature, glue, 1 paper plate per student, audiovisual equipment

Resources

Student Worksheet: 4yu.info/?i=V5981321 Family Engagement: 4yu.info/?i=V5981371 Video: 4yu.info/?i=V59813211 We’re Going on a Nature Hunt Video

Motivation

Being outdoors fosters children’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development. It is recommended that children spend at least 60 minutes outdoors each day. Although children are not always the decision-makers concerning whether they are outdoors or not, instilling motivation to be outdoors increases this likelihood. When a child is out in nature, all the senses are activated and he/she is immersed in something bigger than him/ herself. Being in nature also promotes creativity and imagination through unstructured play, it teaches responsibility by showing consequences of their actions on living things, it promotes physical movement and the ability to harmonize with their environment, it reduces stress and fatigue, and provides Vitamin D, fresh air, and many other health benefits. Many students are not getting enough time out in nature despite many studies that show its host of benefits. The levels of engagement and convenience that “screens” provide in addition to students’ obligations to study are a few factors that are keeping children inside more than ever. This lesson not only motivates students to seek more opportunities to be outside but assists them to recognize more ways to enjoy the outdoors Students will discover the value and pleasure of being outdoors.

Observe: Read the Observe section aloud as a class. Instruct the students to circle the places they have been to before and allow them to share their experiences and adventures. Ask students what are things they can see in nature, things they can hear, smell, taste, and touch. How does it smell after it rains? What is their experience with lightening and thunder? Do they like to feel the warmth of the sun? Watch: Play the video from 4yu.

Goal

Pathways

info/?i=V59813211 for all students to see. Ask comprehension questions. Allow students to ask questions and make comments. Play a second time for reinforcement purposes as desired. Have students connect what they observed in the video with their own experiences. Comment: Read the comprehension questions based on the previous video viewing. Discuss the students’ thoughts. Emphasize the value of spending time in nature. Play: Play “I Spy”. You can play this game outside or show a picture of nature. Select a student to go first by choosing the youngest person, or the person whose name starts with the first letter of the color you are looking for. Students will take turns finding things that correspond with the provided colors. This does not need to be a competitive game. Encourage your students to have fun exploring and finding beauty in nature. You could also use this activity as a preparation for the work of art they will be creating in the next segment. As they are outside have them collect natural items in bags or carton boxes for their creative moment of making something from what nature provides. Create: Instruct your students to create a picture by gluing things from nature onto a paper plate. Picture ideas your students can make are faces, butterflies, trees, birds, nests, hearts or mosaics. Allow the students to be creative and have fun with this project. Give opportunities to share their creations. Reflect: Ask the students to repeat the Reflect statement as a class. Ask the class for volunteers to share their favorite thing to do outside. Ask students if they like being outside. If so, how can they spend more time outside. If not, what can they do to overcome their resistence and make being outside a fun experience. Assure them that being outside is very healthy for them.

Willpower

Repeat the Willpower statement as a class. Decide on hand motions that accompany it. Repeat it with the motions as a class.