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Sensory Nature Journal
- Discovering Nature in Your Neighborhood
- Creating Art with Nature
- Dripping Faucet Art
- A Water Tale
- A Bee's Day Adventure
- A Nesting Tale
- A Leaf's Journey
- A Pot Plant Investigation
- A Tree Investigation
- A Silent Sensory Walk Outdoors
- A Silent Sensory Walk Indoors
- A Creative Flower Study
- A Web Safari
- Discovering Lumbricus Terrestris
- Art and Lumbricus Terrestris
- Animal Vision Exploration
- Outdoor Underfoot Sensory Exploration
- Indoor Underfoot Sensory Exploration
- Story of an Insect's Grassy Home
- Grass: Story of a Magical Mat
- A Sensory Plant Growing Adventure
- Historic Building Stone Exploration
- Sidewalk Rock Hunt
- Capturing Nature in Verse
- Weather Watcher Challenge
- Cloud Explorer and Sketcher
- Moon Watcher
- Daytime Moon Investigation
- Outdoor Weed Investigation
- Online Weed Investigation
- Reflections on Nature
Sidewalk Rock Hunt
Hey, young Geologist. In this exciting activity, you'll become a rock hunter, discovering hidden treasures on your neighborhood's sidewalks. You'll not only search for unique rocks but also use your senses to explore them in creative ways. If you need assistance, enlist an observation partner and embrace this multi-sensory experience together!
What You'll Need:
- Curiosity and Imagination
- Nature Journal, and pencils
- Braille slate and stylus
- (Tactile) drawing paper
- Favorite drawing tools
- Tactile markers
- Multiple sheets of paper and drawing pencils or crayons
- Internet access for research
- Screen reader (if available)
- Optional: family member or friend to assist
Instructions:
Step 1. Exploring the Environment:
Now, it's time to explore your neighborhood. Grab your exploration partner, and let this multi-sensory adventure begin! Start by looking around your neighborhood or the backyard of your house. As you walk down the street, look at the fence lines to see what interesting rocks you can find. Pick up any loose ones that don't seem to serve any purpose.
Step 2. Choose Your Exploration Area:
Find a smooth, flat area in your yard to spread out your rocks. Ensure that the location is comfortable and secure for exploration.
Step 3. Use Your Senses to Identify the Rocks:
For example:
Jot down what you learn in your Nature Journal or braille slate.
Step 4. Rubbing:
You've explored your neighborhood and discovered some cool-looking rocks. Now! Let your imagination run wild and create some tangible art.
Step 4. Rock Sculpture:
Do something spectacular with the rocks you gathered! Create a fabulous sculpture or mini-rock garden in your backyard, balcony, or inside your home. It's simple and fun. Skillfully balance stones and pebbles of different shapes and sizes on top of or next to each other to create visually striking rock formations. Voila, you've done it! You have created fantastic artwork for both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Step 6. Write About Your Discoveries:
Capture your sensory rock exploration in your nature journal, braille slate, or on (tactile) drawing paper. Illustrate or describe the sensations and discoveries with as much detail as you desire. This documentation nurtures creativity and serves as a source of inspiration for future projects.
Step 7. Questions:
Write the answers to the following questions in your Nature Journal or braille slate.
Step 8. Share Your Discoveries:
Have fun comparing and sharing the cool findings you and your exploration partner have discovered. Proudly show off your awesome rock rubbings to your family, friends, and others important to you! Learning becomes fun for everybody when you share your knowledge with others in a fun way.
Conclusion:
Today, you've explored different rocks and investigated their textures, sights, sounds, and scents. Through the "Sidewalk Rock Hunt," you creatively experimented with many sorts of rocks, including rough and smooth ones, and created some fantastic art. Have fun as you continue discovering, exploring, and interacting with these fascinating geological wonders, young Geologist!
Image credit: Photograph by Olga Simonova
Now, it's time to explore your neighborhood. Grab your exploration partner, and let this multi-sensory adventure begin! Start by looking around your neighborhood or the backyard of your house. As you walk down the street, look at the fence lines to see what interesting rocks you can find. Pick up any loose ones that don't seem to serve any purpose.
Step 2. Choose Your Exploration Area:
Find a smooth, flat area in your yard to spread out your rocks. Ensure that the location is comfortable and secure for exploration.
Step 3. Use Your Senses to Identify the Rocks:
For example:
- Touch: Feel the textures of your rocks. Describe their textures.
- Smell: How does each rock smell? Do they have a distinct scent? How do these scents make you feel?
- Listen: Tap your rocks together; listen carefully. Do they produce different sounds? Can you describe these sounds?
- Sight: Observe your rocks. Note the colors, patterns, and any unique features. If you have low or no vision, engage your sense of touch and ask your exploration partner to describe the rocks' appearance.
Jot down what you learn in your Nature Journal or braille slate.
Step 4. Rubbing:
You've explored your neighborhood and discovered some cool-looking rocks. Now! Let your imagination run wild and create some tangible art.
- Grab some smooth rocks, paper, and your favorite crayons or pencils. It's time to expose the rock's hidden textures.
- Cover the surface of the rock with a piece of paper. Gently run a crayon or pencil across the paper—experiment with applying different amounts of pressure. Intricate patterns and details will emerge, creating unique and frame-worthy artworks.
- If you have low or no vision, explore the rubbing by touch and use your notes to understand the rock's characteristics.
Step 4. Rock Sculpture:
Do something spectacular with the rocks you gathered! Create a fabulous sculpture or mini-rock garden in your backyard, balcony, or inside your home. It's simple and fun. Skillfully balance stones and pebbles of different shapes and sizes on top of or next to each other to create visually striking rock formations. Voila, you've done it! You have created fantastic artwork for both outdoor and indoor spaces.
Step 6. Write About Your Discoveries:
Capture your sensory rock exploration in your nature journal, braille slate, or on (tactile) drawing paper. Illustrate or describe the sensations and discoveries with as much detail as you desire. This documentation nurtures creativity and serves as a source of inspiration for future projects.
Step 7. Questions:
Write the answers to the following questions in your Nature Journal or braille slate.
- What types of rocks do you think are most common in your area, and why?
- Can you identify any crystals or minerals in the rocks you discovered? If so, what were they?
- Did you find any fossils or intriguing rock impressions that reveal clues about the past?
- What function do rocks in your neighborhood play in sustaining local plant and animal life?
- What evidence of human use of rocks can you observe? For example, stone walls, sculptures, and so on.
- Have you ever used rocks from your neighborhood for creative projects, and if so, what did you make?
Step 8. Share Your Discoveries:
Have fun comparing and sharing the cool findings you and your exploration partner have discovered. Proudly show off your awesome rock rubbings to your family, friends, and others important to you! Learning becomes fun for everybody when you share your knowledge with others in a fun way.
Conclusion:
Today, you've explored different rocks and investigated their textures, sights, sounds, and scents. Through the "Sidewalk Rock Hunt," you creatively experimented with many sorts of rocks, including rough and smooth ones, and created some fantastic art. Have fun as you continue discovering, exploring, and interacting with these fascinating geological wonders, young Geologist!
Image credit: Photograph by Olga Simonova
