Exploring Nature
Now is the time to take a walk outside and enjoy the seasonal warming of the earth, otherwise known as SPRING! Students may know what larger animals, such as bears, birds and deer, do in spring, but what do smaller creatures like bugs, spiders, and worms do? Use “Microtek Treasure Hunt” from Project WILD as an avenue to explore these little creatures!
Use the following activities to continue your exploration!
Project Learning Tree
Trees as Habitats
The Fallen Log
Nature’s Recyclers
Project WILD Aquatic
MicroOdysey
The Glass Menagerie
Book List
Grades PreK-2
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Wild Places. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Cole, H. 2003. On the Way to the Beach. HarperCollins Publishers.
Cronin, D. 2003. Diary of a Worm. Joanna Cotler.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Romanova, N. 1999. Once There Was a Tree. Rebound by Sagebrush.
Rotner, S. 1992. Nature Spy. Atheneum.
Tresselt, R. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Harpers Collins Publishers.
Wood, A. J. 2003. Beetles and Bugs: A Nature Trail Book. Silver Dolphin Books.
Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 2002. Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking. HarperCollins Publishers.
Art, H.W. and M.W. Robbins. 2003. Woods Walk: Peepers, Porcupines and Exploding Puffballs! What You'll See, Hear and Smell When Exploring the Woods. Storey Books.
Boring, M. 1999. Fun with Nature. T&N Children's Publishing.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. HarperCollins Publishers.
Burnie, D. 2005. DK Smithsonian Bug Hunter. DK Publishing, Inc.
Burns, D.L. 1996. Berries Nuts and Seeds. T&N Children's Publishing.
Burton, J. and K. Taylor. 1999. Nature and Science of Spring. Gareth Stevens Audio.
Criswell, S.G. 1994. Nature through Science and Art. TAB Books.
Hamerstrom, F. 1985. Walk When the Moon Is Full. Crossing Press, Inc.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Tree Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kranz, L. 2002. My Nature Book: A Journal and Activity Book for Kids. T&N Children's Publishing.
Larson, G. 1999. There’s a Hair in my Dirt. Tandem Library.
Ross, M.E. 1993. World of Small: Nature Explorations with a Hand Lens. Yosemite Association.
Walker, R. 2006. Nature Ranger. DK Publishing, Inc.
Grades 6-8
Atkins, J. 2000. Girls Who Looked under Rocks. Dawn Publications.
Fletcher, R.J. 1997. Ordinary Things: Poems from a Walk in Early Spring. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Grades 9-12
Backwill, F, Rolph, M., Darley-Usmar, V. 1995. Microbes, Bugs, and Wonder Drugs. Portland Press.
Edsall, M.S. 1985. Roadside Plants and Flowers. The University of Wisconsin Press.
Milne, L.J, L. Milne, M. Milne, and M. Lorus. 1980. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. Knopf Publishing Group.
