Delving into the vibrancy of the outdoors: A color-based expedition
Hey there! Check out this cool activity called "Exploring Nature Through Colors" that teacher and science communicator Heather Goodey created. She used it to help students improve their observational skills, focusing on why certain things in nature have specific colors.
In this activity, Heather's class first looked at what an observational drawing might look like and compared it to artwork. After that, they colored in a worksheet using various crayons and pencils (even some enjoyed a color song!)
The goal was to find natural things that represented each color—not just the obvious ones like buttercups but also things with less obvious shades, like what could be considered red or pink. They made sure not to harm anything while exploring, only using their eyes to observe.
When they found bugs or other things, Heather provided containers to make it easier to examine them without them escaping. She also asked questions to encourage deep thinking, and it was helpful to have a few magnifying glasses on hand for a closer look.
Heather also did this activity on a rainy day indoors, looking at colorful snacks like strawberries, kiwifruit, and oranges instead of going outside. They even explored bark, lichen, and grass in detail to get them to look more closely.
It's important to define what students can and cannot include in their observations—for example, not including blue trash cans or concrete. They also excluded clouds or the sky and removed flying birds but allowed nearby insects, even if they could fly away.
You can easily adapt this activity to benefit different age groups and classroom environments. For instance, primary school students may need simpler vocabulary, focus on basic color identification, and engage in hands-on activities like creating collages using various materials. Older students could focus on more advanced color theory concepts, research, and independent projects.
If you're teaching in a classroom without outdoor access, use photographs, indoor plants, or host virtual field trips to observe nature. If resources are limited, encourage students to use recycled materials or involve local artists to share their insights on color in nature.
By adapting this activity, educators can help students appreciate the beauty of nature through color while developing valuable observational skills. And don't forget to collaborate with science communicators from the New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators (NZAPSE) for more resources and insights!
In this activity, students continued to develop their observational skills in education-and-self-development by focusing on finding natural things that represented each color, even less obvious ones, and discussing color theory in nature using various materials.
By adapting this activity to different age groups and classroom environments, teachers can help their students learn about the beauty of nature through its colors while improving their observational skills in science.
