Lesson Plan 1: Nature Walk

Name of Activity: Outdoor Exploration

Originating Idea: This activity encourages curiosity and observation skills through
hands-on exploration of the natural world.

Curriculum Area: Science and Technology

Materials:

● Outdoor space (backyard, park, nature trail, etc.)

● Magnifying glasses
● Bug containers
● Field guides or identification cards for local plants and animals

Appropriate Age Group: 3-5 years old

Beginning of Activity: Begin by discussing the concept of nature and the different
things children might see or find outside.

Middle of Activity:

● Early: Take children on a guided nature walk, pointing out different plants, insects,
and animals along the way.
● Middle: Encourage children to use magnifying glasses to observe small details
up close, such as the texture of leaves or the colors of flowers.
● Later: Have children collect items they find interesting (leaves, rocks, feathers,
etc.) and discuss their observations as a group.

End of Activity: Reflect on the nature walk by asking children to share something new
they learned or discovered during their exploration.

Follow-Up Ideas:

1. Create a nature journal where children can draw pictures or write about their
outdoor experiences.
2. Set up a nature-inspired art station where children can create collages or
sculptures using materials they found outside.
Lesson Plan 2: Sink or Float

Name of Activity: Sink or Float Experiment

Originating Idea: This activity explores basic scientific concepts such as buoyancy and
density through a simple hands-on experiment.

Curriculum Area: Science and Technology

Materials:

● Large tub or basin filled with water

● Assorted objects of different weights and materials (plastic toys, rocks, wood
blocks, rubber balls, etc.)

Appropriate Age Group: 4-6 years old

Beginning of Activity: Introduce the concept of sinking and floating to the children,
asking them to predict which objects they think will sink and which will float.

Middle of Activity:

● Early: Show children how to gently place each object into the water and observe
whether it sinks or floats.
● Middle: Encourage children to test their predictions by selecting objects and
placing them in the water one at a time, recording their observations.
● Later: Facilitate a discussion about why certain objects sink while others float,
introducing the concepts of weight, density, and buoyancy.

End of Activity: Reflect on the experiment by discussing any surprises or unexpected

results, and ask children to share what they learned from the activity.

Follow-Up Ideas:

1. Create a sink or float sorting game where children sort objects into two
categories based on whether they sink or float.
2. Explore other concepts related to water and buoyancy, such as surface tension of
water displacement, through additional experiments or activities.
Lesson Plan 3: Building Structures

Name of Activity: Block Tower Challenge

Originating Idea: This activity promotes creativity and problem-solving skills through
hands-on exploration with building materials.

Curriculum Area: Science and Technology

Materials:

● Assorted building materials (wooden blocks, Lego bricks, Duplo blocks,

cardboard tubes, etc.)

Appropriate Age Group: 3-5 years old

Beginning of Activity: Introduce the concept of building structures to the children,

discussing different types of buildings and their purposes.

Middle of Activity:

● Early: Show children how to stack blocks to create simple towers or structures,
emphasizing the importance of a strong base.
● Middle: Encourage children to work in small groups to build their own towers or
structures, experimenting with different arrangements and designs.
● Later: Introduce additional building materials and challenge children to
incorporate them into their structures, such as using cardboard tubes as pillars or
Lego bricks as decorations.

End of Activity: Reflect on the tower challenge by discussing which designs were the
most stable and what strategies the children used to build their structures.

Follow-Up Ideas:

1. Set up a building-themed dramatic play area where children can pretend to be

architects, engineers, or construction workers.
2. Explore concepts related to stability and balance by experimenting with different
ways to knock down or reinforce the block towers.