Exploring the everyday life in nature
The nature around us is amazing. During a hike lasting a couple of hours, we will move along various trails in Muraste and observe the nature around us. We will pay attention to the differences brought by the seasons and use our senses to explore and notice nature.
Language of instruction: English
Target group
Kindergarten, elementary school (age 7-12)
Group size
Up to 25 children
Duration
2 – 2,5 hours
Time
All year round
Information
Every tour is guided by 2 experienced instructors from the Muraste Nature School.
Location: the program begins in Muraste looduskool and goes through the park area around it.
More info: wear clothes and boots suitable for the day’s weather, bring your sandwich and drink with you (every child should have their own backpack).
The trail is not wheelchair accessible.
Description of the program
1. The introduction of the program takes place at the beginning of the path and lasts for about 20 minutes:
• Greeting game
• Introduction to the forthcoming tour
• A reminder how to behave in nature
2. A playful tour in nature with duration of 2 – 2,5 hours
3. One or more of the following themes will be addressed during the tour, depending on the age of the children:
• Learning to notice the relationships between different species and factors in natural environment
• Learning about the most prevalent species (plants, animals, birds)
• Difference between tree, bush, shrub, and herbaceous plant
• Deciduous vs sempervirent trees/bushes/shrubs
• Moss vs lichen
• Identifying different forest types
• Searching for various traces of animal activities
• Listening to the different sounds in the forest
• Orienteering in the forest
• Creating pictures using materials from nature
• Environmental protection
4. Summary of the tour (up to 20 minutes).
Environmental games
Some of the environmental games done during the tours:
✔ “Pantomime of the animals”
✔ “Identifying odours”
✔ “The game of the feet”
✔ “Friendship with a tree”
✔ “Perceiving a tree through our senses”
✔ “The life of the plant”
✔ “Blind worm”
✔ “Right and wrong”
✔ “Bat is hunting”
✔ “Who am I?”
✔ “Sound map”
✔ “Move your ears!”
✔ “Food chain”
✔ “The game of adder/grass snake”
✔ “The game of protective coloration”
✔ “The race of the snails”
✔ “Camera”
✔ “What is forest?”
✔ “Searching for your own tree”
✔ “Name from nature”
✔ “Observing points”
✔ “Lost expedition”
✔ “Where to find it?”
✔ “Forest restaurant”
✔ “Train”
✔ “Finding a friend”
✔ “Wolves, come to howl! Foxes, come to bark!”
✔ “Is it a month of spring or winter?”
✔ “Letter puzzle”