Topic outline
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Finding Outdoor Treasures | Our Favorite Spaces and Places ++ is intended to help you think about the outdoor places that you enjoy or want to explore near you. You will have the chance to learn a little about your county's natural features; ask family, friends, and neighbors about favorite outdoor activities and sites that they enjoy; and then explore and map favorite places. Researchers tell us that when we spend time in nature and talk about how we feel about those places, that we will be more likely to protect and care for the environment.
There are three activities in this project. They go along with the resources shared in the project kit. No prior experience needed, just follow the directions, practice, and share your results with friends and family!
To complete the project - please do all the items in each of the topics (check off boxes as you do them). Each topic includes a:
- "Discussion" - please answer the Q and you may respond to others <you don't have to have a long reply - okay to say something like - "cool idea" or "that has happened to me"> - it is a chance to share your ideas and get to know other families.
- "Lesson" - read or watch the information that is shared and do the activity.
- "Check-in" - the check-in is a reflection or a little knowledge check (not a graded quiz or part of class grades!) - you can do the knowledge checks as many times as you want.
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In this activity, you'll check out a map of the county where your school is located, look for places that you have been, and think about places that you would like to explore,
Before we get started, think about…
What do you love to do outside and where do you go to do that? Who can you think of that loves nature and science – what do they do that makes you think of them in this way?
Here is how I might answer that question. I love nature – always have. Some of my favorite things to do are to hike at a local state park, garden in my backyard, ride my bike along bike trails, and kayak or paddleboard. When I think of people that I know who love nature – I think of a friend that loves to fish, and my sister who loves to hike in the Adirondacks. I know that they each love those things because they are always talking about them and sharing pictures of the places that they have been.
How would you answer the question?
Included in the kit for this project are a county map and stickers, three treasure coins, and a bandana with a logo on it for marking your favorite places.
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Make forum posts: 1
Where do you like to play and do things outside? What activities do you like to do or want to learn to do?
Share your response to this question below, and comment on the response from at least one other person.
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Activity: Finding Local Outdoor Places
You have two things in your kit for this activity: a map of the area and some stickers. It might be helpful to have a pen, pencil, or sticky notes to jot down notes and put them on the map. You may write on the map as you wish – it is yours to keep. Also, I might suggest if it is possible, to find a place in your room or somewhere at home where you can keep the map open so that you can look at it often.
Materials:
Supplied:
- county map
- stickers
You may want to add other art supplies
Steps:
1. Open up the map and look for familiar places:
- find your school and your neighborhood
- find where some of your favorite outdoor places to explore are
2. Look for:- bodies of water – lakes, rivers, and streams…
- state or local parks
- forest land
- farms and agricultural lands near you
- what else is of interest?
3. Find and mark the outdoor places that you have been (black stickers)4. Find the outdoor places where you want to go (green stickers).
Below is a short video showing the steps for this activity.
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Post replies: 1 Make forum posts: 1
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For our second activity we will use a "treasure coin" as a way to start conversations about nature. You will pick a couple of people that you know that love nature to talk to and give them a coin to as a token of gratitude, acknowledging that they shared something special with you.
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View Make forum posts: 1
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Activity: Who are your Nature Influencers?
There are 3 treasure coins in your kit – you can keep one just for fun – but for the others – think of a relative, friend, or neighbor who might have some good ideas about places to enjoy nature.
Materials:
Supplied:
- treasure coins (want more? you download a version here that can be printed off - "coins" can be hand cut)
Steps:
- Schedule a time to talk with at least two others who you know love nature (this doesn't have to be in person).
- Ask these people a few questions/take a few notes on their responses:
- What is your favorite place nearby to explore nature and/or science?
- What do you like to do when you are exploring nature and/or science?
- Has that changed over time and as you have grown?
- Does it change with the seasons?
- + be sure to give your your interviewee a treasure coin and thank them for sharing with you.
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Some ideas might include a visit to a neighborhood, county, or state park, a hike in the woods, a walk along a stream, fishing, a walk in a farm field, a bike ride, winter activities like sledding…it all depends on what is available to you and what you are interested in. For this activity you should consider where (exactly) you want to/can go and what you will do.
Our third activity involves exploring (or planning for a future)
local outdoor adventure. Talk to your
family and plan for an outing near you.
This could be as local as your backyard, or somewhere in your county.-
Post replies: 1 Make forum posts: 1
Talk with your family - what outdoor places would you like to do (locally) this season? What can you fit in as a family? What would be really interesting to explore at another time of the year?
Reply with a response to this question and comment on the response of one other participant.
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Activity: Explore!
For this activity, you will need 2 props – the bandana in your kit and a camera or phone with a camera. If needed, download and print, the bandana design. If you need to you can draw or create an image of your future adventure. If you choose to draw your future outdoor adventure, you will need paper and art supplies.
The bandana could be used as a flag (think pirate flag used to mark a treasure), a cape (think super-hero) or anything you wish. The activity is to go outside and enjoy nature with your family or friends and take a photo of the activity that you are doing or draw a picture of the place visited. If you are not able to go outside, draw a picture of the place that you plan to go to at another time. Take a picture of that.
Photos should not include faces (so it could be your back with cape on or the flag marking a spot, or some clever photo of your choice). Make a note, in general, where the picture was taken or what the drawing is of. Specific location is not required.
Upload a picture of photo of drawing in the project.Materials:
Supplied:
- bandana (want more? you download a version here that can be printed off - "coins" can be hand cut)
- camera
- treasure coins (want more? you download a version here that can be printed off - "coins" can be hand cut)
You may want to add other art supplies
Steps:
1. Talk with your family and choose a new local outside place to explore.
2. Visit a new local place for an outdoor adventure.
3. Use your bandana to make not of the place that you are exploring (flag or cape...anything you would like).
4. Take a picture of your exploration (no faces in the picture please...backs of people or get creative with props). If you are not able to visit, draw a picture of you visiting. You can be as creative as you would like to be.
Below is a short video showing the steps for this activity.
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Thank you so much for participating in this online learning project! I really hope that you will continue to explore the great outdoors, talk to each other, and be on the lookout for new places to adventure with your family and friends. And don't forget to keep track on your map of the cool local places that you have been!
Happy adventuring!
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