Appropriate grades or age groups:
All ages

Estimated time to complete project or implement technique:
a few or many day trips

Materials needed (if applicable):
good walking shoes, comfortable clothes, magnifying glass, plastic bag for collecting
guide books on birds, trees, rocks, etc.
permanent marker
glass jars
snack
drinking water
compass
logbook and pencil

Project instructions or description of technique:
1) Plan adventures with your children.

2) Check out your neighborhood/take hikes in the woods/walk on the beach.

3) What kind of local flora and fauna do you see?

4) Collect leaves, rocks, shells, etc. (that will be used in projects when you return home).

5) Look in your guide books to reference your observations.

6) Take notes for further discussion and research at home.

7) Observe what attracts butterflies and bees.

8) What kind of rocks/shells do you see? What? underneath the treasures that you pick up?

9) Collect and bring home for further discussion of categorizing and defining based on shape, texture, color, etc.

10) If you're near some type of water, collect samples and label.

11) Bring out your compass from time to time to chart your travels.

12) Sit and observe cloud patterns.

13) Observe the color of the sky.

14) Take in the quiet.

15) Close your eyes and listen to sounds. When you hear a sound and recognize it, call it out.

15) Record your findings.

16) Do these sounds have patterns?

17) Have a picnic or snack in some special spot.

18) Your local zoo, aquarium and museums can be great resources for inquiry and fun.