Teacher's Nature Script

Warm-Up: Nature's Mystery Sound (3 minutes)

(Teacher plays a sound of a common animal, like a bird chirping, or a nature sound, like rustling leaves.)

Teacher: "Close your eyes for a moment and listen. What do you think that sound was? Where might you hear it?"

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts.)

Teacher: "Great listening, everyone! That was the sound of a [reveal sound, e.g., 'bird chirping']. Today, we're going to become nature detectives and learn to identify the amazing animals and plants all around us!"

Introduction to Animals and Plants (7 minutes)

(Display Nature's Neighbors Slide Deck - Slide 1: 'Nature's Neighbors: Who Lives Around Us?')

Teacher: "Take a look at our first slide! We're going to talk about all the different living things that share our world, from tiny ants to giant trees. We call these 'Nature's Neighbors'."

(Display Nature's Neighbors Slide Deck - Slide 2: 'What is an Animal?')

Teacher: "First, let's talk about animals. What do you think makes something an animal? Shout out some ideas!"

(Listen for student responses, then guide them to the slide points.)

Teacher: "That's right! Animals are living things that usually can move from place to place. Think about a bird flying, a fish swimming, or a dog running. They also need to eat other living things to get energy, like a squirrel eating nuts or a cat eating fish. Animals come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny ladybugs to enormous elephants! Can you name some animals you've seen recently?"

**(Display Nature's Neighbors Slide Deck - Slide 3: 'What is a Plant?')

Teacher: "Now, let's switch to our other big group of nature neighbors: plants. How are plants different from animals?"

(Listen for student responses, then guide them to the slide points.)

Teacher: "Excellent ideas! Plants are living things that usually stay rooted in one spot, like a tree or a flower. They don't run around looking for food like animals do. Instead, they make their own food using sunlight – how cool is that? They usually have roots to stay in the ground, a stem, and leaves, and many have beautiful flowers or tasty fruits. Think about the grass in your yard or the big trees in a park. What are some plants you know?"

Guided Practice: What Am I? (7 minutes)

(Display Nature's Neighbors Slide Deck - Slide 4: 'Animal or Plant? Let's Practice!')

Teacher: "Alright, nature detectives! Let's practice telling the difference. I'm going to show you some pictures, and I want you to tell me: Is it an animal or a plant? Then, try to use its common name."

(Go through each image on Slide 4 one by one. For each, ask: "Animal or Plant? What is it called?")

Teacher: "Fantastic work, everyone! You're really getting good at this. Now, let's make sure we have a good record of our learning."

(Distribute the What Am I? Worksheet.)

Teacher: "I've given you all a What Am I? Worksheet. We're going to do the first few together, just like we did with the slides. Look at the first picture. Is it an animal or a plant? Write down your answer, and then try to write its name. We're using common names today, so what you usually call it!"

(Guide students through the first 2-3 examples on the worksheet, providing support and checking for understanding.)

Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt (Indoor/Outdoor) (10 minutes)

(Display Nature's Neighbors Slide Deck - Slide 5: 'Becoming Nature Detectives!')

Teacher: "Now for the fun part! It's time for our Nature Scavenger Hunt! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find real-life examples (or pictures if we are inside) of animals and plants. You'll need to write down what you find and say if it's an animal or a plant."

(Explain the boundaries and safety rules for the scavenger hunt, whether inside or outside. If outside, emphasize not touching unfamiliar plants or animals. Provide students with paper/clipboards/pencils as needed.)

Teacher: "I want you to be super observant! Look for insects, birds, trees, flowers, grass – anything living you can find! When you find something, write its name down and mark if it's an animal or a plant. We have 10 minutes for our hunt. Ready? Set? Go, nature detectives!"

(Circulate among students, offering help, asking guiding questions, and encouraging participation.)

Wrap-Up & Project Introduction (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, nature detectives, let's gather back together! Who found some interesting animals or plants?"

(Allow a few students to share 1-2 findings.)

Teacher: "Wonderful discoveries! You all did a fantastic job recognizing nature's neighbors. To continue being super nature detectives, I have an optional project for you, or we can work on it next week. It's called the My Local Ecosystem Project Guide, and it will help you explore even more about the animals and plants right in your neighborhood."

Teacher: "Before we finish today, what was one new animal or plant you learned to recognize today? Give me a thumbs up if you feel like you're better at telling animals and plants apart now!"

Teacher: "Excellent! Keep observing the amazing living world around you!"

What Am I? Worksheet

Name: _____________________________

Directions: Look at each picture. Decide if it is an Animal or a Plant. Then, write its common name.

1. Picture of a Cat

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

2. Picture of a Rose Bush

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

3. Picture of a Dog

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

4. Picture of a Maple Tree

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

5. Picture of a Bird

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

6. Picture of Grass

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

7. Picture of a Butterfly

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

8. Picture of a Sunflower

Is it an Animal or a Plant?

What is its name?

Nature Scavenger Hunt!

Name: _____________________________

Mission: Become a Nature Detective! Your job is to find living things around our classroom or outside. When you find something, decide if it's an Animal or a Plant, and then write its name down.

Directions:

1. Look carefully all around you!
2. When you see an animal or a plant, write its name in the chart below.
3. Check the box to say if it is an Animal or a Plant.
4. Remember to be gentle and respectful of all living things.

Bonus Challenge: Draw one of the animals or plants you found!

My Local Ecosystem Project Guide

Name: _____________________________

Introduction: We've been learning about the amazing animals and plants that live around us. Now it's your turn to become a super nature scientist and explore the living things in your very own neighborhood or backyard! This project will help you look closely and share what you discover.

Project Goal: To identify and describe at least three different animals and three different plants in your local environment, using common terminology, and to explain where they live.

Materials You Might Need:

• Paper or a notebook
• Pencils and crayons/colored pencils
• A camera (optional, with adult supervision)
• An adult helper!

Project Steps:

Step 1: Explore Your Environment (15-20 minutes)

• With an adult, go for a walk in your backyard, a local park, or around your neighborhood. Look closely at the ground, in trees, on bushes, and even in the sky!
• Think about the animals you see (like birds, squirrels, insects) and the plants you see (like trees, flowers, grass).

Step 2: Observe and Record (15-20 minutes)

• When you find an animal or a plant, stop and observe it carefully.
• Ask yourself:
  • Is it an animal or a plant?
  • What is its common name? (e.g., robin, oak tree, daisy, ant)
  • What does it look like? (Colors, size, shape)
  • Where did you find it? (e.g., on a branch, in the grass, flying in the air, in a flower bed)
• In your notebook or on a piece of paper, write down the name of the animal or plant. Draw a picture of it. Write one or two sentences describing it and where you found it.
• Try to find at least three different animals and three different plants.

Step 3: Share Your Discoveries! (Presentation at home or in class)

• Once you have found and recorded your animals and plants, get ready to share them!
• You can:
  • Tell your family about your discoveries.
  • Bring your drawings and descriptions to class to share with your classmates.
  • If you took pictures, you could show those too!

Example of how to record your findings:

Animal 1: Squirrel

Drawing: (Space for a drawing of a squirrel)

Description: I saw a brown squirrel with a bushy tail. It was climbing up a big tree and looking for nuts. It moved very fast!

Plant 1: Dandelion

Drawing: (Space for a drawing of a dandelion)

Description: I found a bright yellow dandelion flower growing in the grass. It had green leaves around the bottom.

Remember to be a good scientist: observe, record, and share what you learn!