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Outdoor/Indoor Activity
"A"
EXPLORING AT SCHOOL
CONNECTION TO LEWIS AND CLARK
Lewis and Clark are probably America's best known explorers. Although
their story has been told countless times, it still retains the
power to excite the imagination of new listeners.
OVERVIEW OF THIS ACTIVITY
After learning about explorers in general and Lewis and Clark in
particular, students form groups to explore the playground, their
own classroom, another room at school--perhaps the library or cafeteria--or
even a nearby park. After the exploration, students report on what
they experienced.
PURPOSE(S)
To introduce the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to young
children and to encourage students to observe the world around them
as Lewis and Clark did.
MATERIALS/TOOLS NEEDED
- Group name tags (purchased or handmade)
- Markers
ADVANCE PREPARATION
- Visit the playground (or other site that has been chosen for
this activity). Mentally divide the area into as many zones as
explorer groups.
- Present Lesson Plan "A," YOU,
TOO, CAN BE AN EXPLORER to the class before beginning this
activity.
- Prepare group nametags. The teacher may assign group names prior
to the activity or let the groups choose their own names.
IMPLEMENTATION
- Divide the class into groups of explorers, having as few children
as possible in each group. For younger students, assign one adult
to each group. For older students, choose a captain by drawing
slips of paper, only one of which has the word CAPTAIN written
on it. The adults and student captains are "in charge"
of their groups.
- Distribute group nametags.
- At the exploration site, direct each group to one of the predetermined
zones. Each group of explorers must search their zone carefully
to see what is there--flowers, rocks, bushes, birds, insects,
trash, playground swings, a tree with a nest in it, etc.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY
After a predetermined length of time, the groups return to the classroom
where they report their observations to the class. Reports may be
oral, written, or drawn according to age and capability. For written
or drawn reports, click on WHAT DID
YOU SEE? WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
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