
Naturalists use their senses to explore the natural world. Take a nature walk using a Feel Guide to describe the different textures you observe with your sense of touch.
Grade Range (suggested): pre-K-2
Materials:
- paper, marker, glue, scissors
- 5 materials with different textures (i.e. – cotton ball – soft, aluminum foil – smooth, sandpaper – rough, sponge – squishy, bubble wrap – bumpy, fabric – fuzzy)
ENGAGE
- Discuss the five senses by naming each sense then pointing to the body part that helps with that sense. (ears = hear, eyes = see, nose = smell, mouth = taste, fingers = touch)
PREPARE TO EXPLORE
- Naturalists (scientists who study nature) use tools, like field or feel guides, to focus observations.
- Students will be focusing on the sense of touch. Tell students they can warm up their hands by rubbing them together and stretching their fingers wide then closing them into a fist.
EXPLORE
- To make a Feel Guide, trace your hand on a piece of paper then attach a different material to each finger. Write a label to describe the texture on each finger.
- Practice observing and describing each texture on the Feel Guide using the corresponding label.
- Go on a Nature Walk, outdoors or indoors, with your Feel Guide to make and describe your observations.


REFLECT and SHARE
- Compare and contrast the different textures you observed.
Find this activity write-up in Spanish by clicking through to page 2.
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