Create an explorer kit to nurture children's curiosity about the natural world

By giving children the tools to investigate the natural world around them, they can make new discoveries and consider patterns in nature. Explorer kits are a fantastic learning tool and help to foster inquiring minds.

Activities

Fine Motor Skills

Small Children using magnifying glasses to look at insects

Share with friends and colleagues:

Creating explorer kits is an easy and fun exercise to do with children. Giving children the role of explorer and giving them a few simple tools to search, investigate and record findings and report back helps improve their ability to discover, compare, collaborate and communicate.

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What you will need:

A bag that is easy for a child to carry
Magnifying glass
Pens and pencils
Paper
Clip Board (could be made from stiff cardboard and a bulldog clip)
Binoculars

Helpful Teaching Strategies to extend

Take your time when out in nature so children can take their time
Have several explorer kits available so children can use these together
Ask children to share with you about what they found, record their conversations to support your documentation

Potential Learning Outcomes

Identifying things in nature (EKI)
Collaborating with others to explore nature (EKI)
Discussing observations of the world around them (EKI)
Comparing, contrasting, sorting, or classifying natural items (EKI)

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