The Victorian Government is hosting its first free virtual nature festival from 28 September – 11 October 2020. Meet Victoria’s park rangers online, take a virtual tour of the zoo, learn about Dja Dja Wurrung’s work on Country or check out a webinar about nature and science. These events look interesting for Preschoolers: 28 September Become […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Purpose: For the child to explore science and nature through making a bird feeder, encouraging them to observe their outdoor environment Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, the adult must assist the child in making and hanging the bird feeder Prerequisites None Materials Empty toilet roll Single […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Purpose: for the child to enhance their perception of items found in the natural environment though observing it closer Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the adult must give the child instructions for this exercise then the child may collect the items independently Prerequisites None Materials An […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Purpose: For the child to develop a greater understanding of insects and their characteristics, through spending time in their outdoor environment Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the child may go on the insect search independently after the adult shows the child the insect 3 part cards Prerequisites None Materials Insect 3-part cards […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Purpose: For the child to explore creative processes using natural materials found outdoors Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mainly supervision Prerequisites None Materials Leaves Twigs Acorns (Natural materials found outdoors) Paper Craft glue Glue spreader or small paintbrush Basket to collect the materials Preparation None […]
Recommended Age: 4 to 5 years Purpose: For the child to further their understanding of the ways which letters are formes Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mainly supervision Prerequisites: the child must know the letters of the alphabet and their sequence Materials A collection of natural materials found outdoors A basket to collect the materials Preparation […]
Recommended Age: 3 to 5 years Purpose: For the child to connect the colours used in colour box 2, to objects found in the natural outdoor environment Level of Parent Involvement: Low, once the activity has been explained to the child, the child may work independently with low supervision Prerequisites The child can pair and identify […]
Recommended Age: 4 years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the adult must give the child instructions initially then the child may work independently. This exercise is something which can be an ongoing project for the child, adding to it as they please Prerequisites None Materials A note book for the child to use […]
Recommended Age: 4 and ½ years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Low, the adult gives the child instructions for the exercise then the child may work independently Prerequisites The child must be able to count (have one to one correspondence in order to count the tally marks) The child Materials Small blank notebook (A5 or […]
Recommended Age: 4 years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Low, this exercise requires the adult to demonstrate then the child may work independently Prerequisites The child must have some knowledge of basic shapes and how they are formed Materials Large chalk Masking tape Scissors Bucket Scrubbing brush Preparation None Steps Invite […]
Recommended Age: 4 and ½ to 6 years Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, the adult must prepare the materials and facilitate the initial exercise with the child, once the child has been shown they may repeat the exercise independently Prerequisites The child must be able to stay focused on a task The child must […]
Recommended Age: 3 to 5 years Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, the parent must facilitate the initial exercise, then low once the child has been shown and works independently with the cards Prerequisites None Materials Garden tool cards Small box or basket to keep the cards Scissors Laminator Laminating sheets Real garden tools to […]
Recommended Age: 3 to 5 years Level of Parent Involvement: Medium during the initial exercise, low once the child has built a repertoire of leaf shapes and can use the cards to find leaf shapes in the environment independently Prerequisites None Materials Botany cabinet leaf shape cards Small box or basket to keep the cards […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Low Prerequisites None Materials A tree with an interesting pattern on the trunk (if you do not have any trees in your outdoor space or live in an apartment, this might be a nice opportunity to go for a walk with your child, packing a […]
Recommended Age: 4-5 years Level of Parent Involvement: High, this exercise requires the adult to go for a walk around the neighbourhood with the child, the child may also need help totalling the numbers for addition Prerequisites The child must know how to write numbers 0-10 The child must have had some experience in addition The […]
Recommended Age: 4 to 5 years Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, this exercise requires the adult to facilitate the activity by giving the child experience with comparative (long, longer, short, shorter) and superlative (long, longest, short, shortest) language using sticks in the outdoor environment as a resource Prerequisites The child must be able to concentrate on […]
Recommended Age: 2 and ½ years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mostly preparation, modelling and supervision. Once the child has been shown encourage independent repetition Prerequisites Beneficial but not essential that the child can recognise numerals 1-6 Materials Chalk (for outdoors) OR Painters tape/masking tape (for indoors) Preparation Using the chalk or […]
Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Medium the first time showing the child then low once the child works independently Prerequisites None Materials Items typically found outdoors for example leaves, twigs, rocks, bark, flowers, gumnuts etc A basket or bag for the child to collect the objects Preparation None Steps […]
Recommended Age: 2 and ½ years onwards Level of Parent Involvement: Medium, this activity requires the adult to be the facilitator, low for older children who may be able to play this game without an adult Prerequisites None Materials Small object to pass around (the “potato”) for example a bean bag, a ball or a […]
Recommended Age: 3y+ Level of Parent Involvement: Low Preparation Go for Nature Walks with your child around your garden or suburb to collect a variety of natural objects to add to your collection. Materials A collection of different leaves, flowers, petals, seeds, rocks, pinecones, shells, etc. A plain coloured surface to be […]
