ACTIVITY

Finding Your Own Spot in Nature

Students visit a nearby natural area to find their own quiet spot to sit, observe, and actively use their senses while writing about their experience.

This activity helps students to connect with  their surroundings and themselves in a mindful way.

Before:

Choose a nearby natural area large enough for students to spread out and find their own quiet spot.

Inform students that they will go outside, so they can bring proper shoes and clothing.

1

Walk with the students to a nearby natural area.

2

Start with an active game where students can move and be loud.

3

Then, shift to quiet focus. Tell the students they will find their own spot. Ask questions as:

  • What in nature draws your attention?
  • Which place do you feel attracted to?
  • Where could you sit silently for 20 minutes?
4

Before the students start wandering around, tell them that once they settled, they will explore their senses. Give the students the following instructions:

  1. Explore your spot carefully. Which plants and insects do you notice? What draws your attention? You can touch, smell, listen and feel.
  2. When done exploring, sit down and close your eyes. Listen with full attention. Draw everything you hear in a Sound Map. Be as creative as you want.
  3. Stay in your spot when your Sound Map is finished. Ask yourself, what did I see, hear, feel? Express your experience a poem, quote, drawing or story.
5

Call everyone back and invite them to share their experience. You can do this for example by using the Round Robin or the Stand up if.. method.

Didactic tips:

  1. For safety, invite extra teachers or parents to join.
  2. This is a quiet, individual activity, some students may need support finding focus. Help by pointing out something interesting, and model the task by doing it yourself.
  3. The method of Active Listening can be helpful to use.
  4. For a visual understanding of what a Sound Map is, check out Finding Your Own Spot in Nature of Sensory Trust.
  5. You can adapt or combine steps 1, 2 and 3.
  6. Activity XXX can optionally be added to extend this Brick.
GreenComp: Connection, sensory activity, exploring
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EngageInvestigate
THEME:
Nature & biodiversity
TIME: 60–90 minutes (depending on walking time)
AGE: 10-12 years, 13-15 years

SUBJECTS:

  • Nature sciences
  • Mother tongue
  • English
  • Arts

TOOLS / MATERIALS:

  • Sturdy paper or cardboard (A4)
  • Pencils or markers
  • Optionally a sit-pad

METHODS:

RESOURCES: