I’m pleased to welcome Mandi Lee Han, MA, to the blog to give some fantastic Montessori outdoor activity ideas to do using your family walks.
Mandi is a Montessorian and behavior therapist dedicated to teaching others how to make independent learning activities to meet children’s needs by re-purposing and reusing toys and common household items using Montessori and TEACCH design methods. She is also the creator of the From This to That Early Learning.
These ideas are perfect for a Montessori family looking to bridge practices at home, or a homeschooling curriculum, or for any parent of any child who is interested in following up your outdoor time with hands-on activities that applicable to the child’s immediate environment.
1. Leaf Cabinet / Botany Ideas
The first might be a scavenger hunt for general items on your walk, or using the tray from the leaf cabinet. Here are some ideas on Pinterest, with lots of nature scavenger hunt downloads.
Mandi says:
- Describe the trail you walked and which types of leaf shapes were found on your hike.
- Create a journal and ask the kids to illustrate either their favorite or memorable part of the hike along with leaf shapes found on that particular trail.
- Another idea is to make a map of where the leaf shapes were found. This idea would increase trail usage and make it fun for families with an encouraging way for children to interact with the environment.
For more information about why nature is the best extracurricular activity for kids, see this post from 1000 hours outside.
2. Animal Journals
I mentioned to Mandi that on our Fernandez Ranch walk, we saw a red tailed hawk, cows, a pale swallowtail butterfly, a snake, and several birds including robins, and two mysterious bones (it was a great day!).
Mandi said that animal journals are a great activity. Montessori curriculum covers zoology. The study of animals consists of nomenclature cards. The cards study the ‘parts’ of the animals. The animal kingdom is studied by phylum.
- Use nomenclature cards to read, illustrate and label the animal. It would be interesting to see if on the second visit, they apply what they’ve learned in their journal description, observations or discussion.
- Recording and illustrating could also lead to graphing and comparing future visits.
- Some downloadable nomenclature cards are here and here. I have also collected a few on my Pinterest board.
- With regard to journaling, a teaching strategy used with journaling is called dictation. Basically the child describes what they see and you record. This method models writing. The second method used in journaling is invented spelling where the child sounds out the words. Journaling is best used and applied in meaningful and purposeful activities. This is more powerful than a journal entry at school about a favorite movie or toy. This is interactive, engaging and encourages exploration! You’re doing some amazing work! How fun!(Note: we did this with great success.)
3. For Younger Kids: Matching and Counting
I asked Mandi what ideas she had for a three or four year old, since my almost-four-year-old isn’t old enough to journal (although we did do the dictation with great success). She said:
Rocks
- Matching
- Counting
- Illustrating
- Size
Trees
- Measure using yarn
- Tree rubbings
Using Photos
- Use a camera. This is great if you don’t want to take items from nature. Photograph rock collections, leaves, and then leave them at the site. (Carrying a back pack full of rocks is great for regulating sensory system.)
- Allow the child to tell you what to photograph. Print it out at home and have the child recall and retell important details.
I hope you’ve found these ideas helpful. Mandi is an amazingly creative person, and her blog covers DIY Montessori tools. Thank you so much, Mandi!
