Let’s make a nature feel guide

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

1. 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

2. Naturalists (scientists who study nature) use tools, like field or feel guides, to focus observations.
3. 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

4. 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.
5. Practice observing and describing each texture on the Feel Guide using the corresponding label. 
6. Go on a Nature Walk, outdoors or indoors, with your Feel Guide to make and describe your observations. 

REFLECT and SHARE

7. Compare and contrast the different textures you observed.

Find this activity write-up in Spanish by clicking through to page 2.