This engaging sensory activity lets Pre-K and Kindergarten students explore the wonders of nature through touch. By feeling natural objects and describing them, students practice using descriptive language to guess what they’re holding. Memory challenges, and group guessing games add an extra layer of fun. Spark curiosity, expand vocabulary, and build observation skills with this hands-on, interactive game!
Objectives
| Foster sensory exploration. |
| Encourage descriptive language and critical thinking. |
| Build memory and observation skills. |
Materials Needed
• Natural objects such as pinecones, acorns, pecans, pine needles, moss, lichen, grass, rocks, dandelions, rose petals, seashells, feathers, oak leaves, bark, seedpods, edible berries, small vegetables, or fruits
• Basket to collect and carry objects
Grade Levels
Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade
Details
Step 1: Explore Nature by Taking a Nature Walk
Take a nature walk with the young students encouraging sensorial exploration. Ask students to describe what they notice and mindfully pick up natural elements to their hands and feel them. Instruct what can be picked up, and what cannot be touched (such as stinging nettle, poison ivy, prickly vine, poisonous berry, rare wildflower). How does the nature object feel? Is it soft, hard, wet, rough, bumpy, sticky or smooth?
How does the nature object feel? Is it soft, hard, wet, rough, bumpy, sticky or smooth?
Together students may collect leaves, sticks, rocks, loose moss, dried flowerheads, acorns, and edible berries. After the walk, students can reflect on their findings with the fun sensorial activity.
Step 2: Play a Game of Nature’s Mystery Touch – Feel, Describe and Name Natural Objects
Ask a student keeps their hands behind their back. The teacher or another student hands out an object to each student picked up from local nature.
The object could be a pinecone, acorn, pecan, pine needles, moss, lichen, grass, rocks, dandelion, rose petals, seashells, feathers, oak leaves, bark, seedpod, edible berries, vegetables, fruit.
The teacher (or another student) asks the student, “How does this object feel?”
The student is encouraged to use descriptive language.
After describing the object, the student tries to guess it.
Variations
Home Learning
Place one object at a time to child’s hands and count how many objects the child guesses right. Repeat the round but give objects in a new order.
Memory Game
Place objects on the ground. Remove one. Ask students, “Which one is missing?” Adjust the number of objects based on the students’ age.
Language Skills
Place objects on the ground. Ask one student to describe the object of their choice without saying its name, only using adjectives. Other students guess what object they mean.
Step 3: Reflect In the Classroom
Bring nature objects to the classroom. Students may complete a reflection activity where they draw their favorite natural object or use them for a craft. A teacher can evaluate learning by creating additional quizzes and objectives.
