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In our article, 鈥�Exploring Nature Indoors with Observational Drawing and Scientific Thinking,鈥澨齱hich appears in the Fall 2021 issue of听Teaching Young Children, we write about what observational drawing is and how early childhood educators can use this practice听in early learning settings. Observational drawing helps children develop science skills and knowledge. To spark children鈥檚 noticing, wondering, and drawing, we need appealing and concrete objects. Nature provides just those objects, usually for free and with just a bit of preparation.

Here, we share 10 tips for finding nature-based objects to prompt听curiosity, questioning, observation, and听learning.听But first,听we听want to remind you to be safe! Make sure听that听wasps鈥� nests are empty, birds鈥� nests are not being used, plants are not poisonous, and you can keep alive any plant, pet, or specimen you adopt.听听

Also consider听your听own feelings and potential听biases:听Do insects听gross you out? Are听you听comfortable handling a scientific specimen? Do you shy away from messiness?听Once you听recognize and sort through your feelings about nature,听you听can more fully plan and听support children鈥檚 interests听in听nature-based materials and experiences.听听

1. Take a closer look听and don鈥檛 be afraid to get dirty.听By getting closer to the earth,听you are more likely to see, smell, touch, and hear听what once听may have been听invisible to you. In turn, you can draw children鈥檚 attention to something exciting.听Nature doesn鈥檛 have to be huge鈥攐r far away鈥攖o听be impactful.听Find a place where you can dig up a moist section of earth that is covered in grass. Take a large shovel full in a tub into your room and put it on a table with tools and magnifying glasses for the children. Nature鈥檚 treasures will unfold!听听听听

2. Take a walk with the children around your outdoor play space.听As you听and the children walk, encourage them to use their senses to notice what鈥檚 around.听Have each child carry a small paper bag听to听gather some samples鈥攔ocks,听stones, sticks, leaves, a section of earth, an abandoned nest, seeds, pods, wood chips,听or bark.听You听can听also put a piece of tape around each child鈥檚 wrist, sticky side out, to collect leaves, blossoms, or other small treasures.听There is nature all around us.听You can鈥檛 always take nature with you, so also bring a digital device to take photos or videos to听refer back听to during your exploration time in the classroom.听听听听

3. Put the word out!听Social media can be an amazing听tool听for听finding听natural treasures.听We听have posted听messages听like,听鈥淚 am a preschool teacher in search of seashells for my classroom. Does anyone have some they can donate for us to explore?鈥� Don鈥檛 forget about families听in your program: they听may have a听wonderous听nature听object听to share.听That鈥檚 how we got an enormous, abandoned wasps鈥� nest that听sparked听a lot of curiosity听and investigation.听听
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4. Attract听wildlife听visitors with bird seed.听Put out a bird feeder filled with bird seed,听and听your class听will听see听many different visitors听(not just birds).听Place the bird feeder near a window so听that听children can continue their observations throughout the day.听

5. Dissect owl pellets.听Owl pellets听are听inexpensive听(usually听$3.00 each听but听sometimes free if you know where an owl may roost), safe, and an amazing example of the food chain. With guidance, children can find bones from a variety of听mammals such as听mice, voles,听and听moles.听Owl pellets that are purchased are sanitized by baking at a high enough temperature to kill germs and bacteria. If you are in an area where you have access to owl pellets (wooded areas, old barns, rural areas), then听you can collect and sanitize them yourself.听Visit the听听to learn how and听to听download a free bone sorting chart.听Want to learn听even听more?听Visit听,听watch听Science U鈥檚听听or buy听materials听at听.听听听

6. Connect听with a florist.听Store-bought flowers听can be听costly, but a florist听might听be willing to donate their damaged or unsellable flowers听instead of throwing them听away.听Alternatively, grocery store florists often have听less expensive听bouquets of daisies or听carnations,听if听you鈥檙e听able听to spend a little money.听听

7. Plant seeds.听A bag of soil, cups, and pinto beans听offer听the opportunity to observe the miracle of growth and nature with听children.听Pinto beans are inexpensive and grow quickly,听which means that听children听will听observe听noticeable听changes over a short period of time. There are several different ways you can do this with听children.听Our听favorite way is to place a couple of dried pinto beans in a wet paper towel in a clear sandwich baggie. You can experiment by putting听another听bag in the dark, one with听a dry paper towel, and one with soil instead of a paper towel.听Then, ask children to observe, discuss, and record the differences while the beans grow.

8. Don鈥檛 squash that bug!听Peeking听behind furniture or听searching听in the corners of rooms,听children听are likely to find a spider or other small insect life.听Encourage children to听get a magnifying class to听examine听the bug up close,听or ask a teacher听to get a piece of paper and a cup to听gently听catch the听bug.听It听can then be transferred to a clear container for children to continue their observations. Help the children identify the bug using books or a website听like听. To read more about how Kendra guided a group of 2 and 3 years olds through an insect exploration,听read听听And for even more ideas to explore the world of bugs with children, check out听.听

9. Connect听with local and state听groups for听resources.听Staff at local and state organizations may be equipped to听bring in听nature objects听and activities.听They听 may even have funding or other ways to cover costs associated with nature-based experiences.听For example, the Illinois Department of Natural 听Resources has resources such as borrowing boxes, grants, free posters, learning packets, and schoolyard habitat grants. It is worth checking out if your state鈥檚 department of natural resources might offer resources for your young learners.

10. Look for beauty in nature to engage children in observational听drawing.听Think about what you听find听beautiful and draws your eye in nature. Perhaps you are drawn to shimmering sea stones, the intricacies of a bird鈥檚 nest, the lines in driftwood, or a bouquet of wildflowers alongside the road on your way to work. If it鈥檚 catching your eye, it will probably catch听children鈥檚听eyes听too. Introducing听what the beauty of nature听to children will create an excellent opportunity to practice observational drawing.听It will听foster听opportunities听for them听to gain a deeper appreciation for nature and听scientific听exploration. For example, Kendra听(author)听saw daisies at her local听market, thought they were beautiful, and hoped maybe her听children听would think so too. You can read about how Kendra used the daisies for observational drawing in our article,听鈥淓xploring Nature Indoors with Observational Drawing and Scientific Thinking.鈥�听听