Outdoor Underfoot Sensory Exploration 

Hey, young Adventurer! Get ready for a ground-breaking expedition. Today, you're exploring the textures and wonders under your feet. From soft grass to gritty gravel, you'll use your senses to uncover the hidden stories of outdoor surfaces. Gather your tools and start your sensory adventure!

What You'll Need:

  • Curiosity and Imagination
  • ​Nature Journal, and pencils
  • Braille slate and stylus 
  • (Tactile) drawing paper
  • Favorite drawing tools
  • Tactile markers
  • A phone with a recording app or recording device
  • ​ Optional: family member or friend to assist

Instructions:

Step 1. Recording:
  • Use your recording device to capture the sound of your feet on whatever surface you are walking on.
  • Speak into your recording device, and state the location and type of surface you are walking on. Identify if you are barefoot or the kind of footwear you are wearing. 
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing, note the sensations you feel underfoot in your Nature Journal or braille slate.


Step 2. Sensory Exploration and Identification:
  • Spend time outdoors, taking walks, or moving around different areas.
  • Deliberately walk on grass, gravel, pavement, sand, soil, or any other surface you encounter.
  • Try walking on these surfaces (if possible) with bare feet or different footwear, such as sandals, hard shoes, or runners. 
  • As you step on each surface, pay attention to how each surface feels underfoot and identify and describe how it feels. For example: grass - soft and cool, pavement - firm and smooth, sand - shifting and warm, and so on


Step 3. Document Your Findings:
  • Capture your sensory walk experience in your Nature Journal, braille slate, or on (tactile) drawing paper. Write or sketch what you felt or sensed during the walk. Be as descriptive or imaginative as you like. Documenting your observations ensures that they'll be accessible for future reference.
  • If you can hear, play back the recordings of your observations and use them to guide your writing or sketches.


Step 4. Questions:
Write the answers to the following questions in your Nature Journal or braille slate.
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  1. Did wearing different footwear change the sensations you felt? If so, describe how.
  2. Describe the contrast between natural surfaces like grass, sand, and soil. How do they differ in terms of texture and temperature?
  3. How do the different outdoor surfaces sound when walking barefoot or with footwear on them? 
  4. Did you detect subtle variations in the terrain, such as inclines, declines, or irregularities, through underfoot sensations alone?
  5. What impact does the weather have on the underfoot experience? Consider rainy, sunny, or windy days and how they affect the surfaces you walk on.
  6. Reflect on how the underfoot sensory experience contributes to your connection with nature and the outdoor environment.


Step 5. Share Your Discoveries:
Share your "Outdoor Underfoot Surface Exploration" with family, friends, and others important to you!​ Let them know about the unexpected sensory experiences you encountered.​ 


​Conclusion:
Your sensory journey is a chance to engage with your surroundings mindfully. Each step reveals textures, patterns, and sensations, increasing sensory awareness. It transforms the outdoor environment into a canvas for exploration and discovery, promoting curiosity. Happy exploring, young Adventurer!
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Image credit: Photograph by Charinporn Thayot