This free curriculum provides 24 lessons over six units, full of activities to help students focus and hone their observation skills using multiple senses.

Objectives

  • Students will learn how to quiet their minds while pointing their senses outward. (Unit 1)
  • Students will learn how to record qualitative, quantitative, and sensory data. (Unit 1)
  • Students will learn how to use all their senses to make observations. (Unit 1)
  • Students will learn what it’s like to be an animal. (Unit 4A)
  • Students will learn how to develop a search image of an organism (where and when to look). (Unit 4A)
  • Students will learn how animals use their senses to survive. (Unit 4B)
  • Students will learn unique traits of different animals or plants. (Unit 4C)

An important part of is developing the ability to observe nature. To become proficient at interpreting what they observe, students need to continuously practice and apply outdoor observation skills. This curriculum progressively builds those skills for K-8 students through demonstrations and practice in real world situations including collecting data and keeping field journals.

For educators already teaching Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Project WET, connections to relevant lessons are included in a table.  Alignment to the Framework for K-12 Science Standards (National Research Council 2011) is also provided in an appendix.

While all of the included lessons are valuable for outdoor and environmental education, the activities in Unit 1 and Units 4A – C will be particularly useful for biomimicry educators looking to help students tune into nature’s strategies.

  • Unit 1: Science Notebook — How do students record qualitative, quantitative, and sensory data?
  • Unit 4A: Focusing on an Animal — What is it like to be an animal?
  • Unit 4B: Use Your Senses — How do animals use their senses to survive?
  • Unit 4C: WANTED Poster — What are unique traits of different animals (or plants)?

This curriculum was developed by the Pacific Education Institute on behalf of the Association for Fish & Wildlife Agencies.