Hobbies And Interests
Find a Tree
Find a Tree is an environmental game that connects kids to trees and develops their sense of smell and touch, which can be useful while hiking or exploring nature. You may decide to go to a park, wilderness or your own backyard to play Find a Tree. At least two players are needed. You begin by blindfolding your partner with a bandana or piece of cloth. Closing your eyes is also allowed, but no peeking. Safely lead your blindfolded partner to a tree. Tell him to feel the tree with his hands and ask him several questions. Is it rough or smooth? Is it large or small? Are there any holes in the tree? Continue to ask questions until you feel that the blindfolded person has finished describing the tree. Ask him to give a description of the tree smell. Does it smell sweet, sour, earthy, etc.? Once he is finished, take him back to the starting point and remove the blindfold. Now, using touch and smell, the person must try to find the correct tree.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
A nature scavenger hunt helps children to become more aware of their natural environment. Gather your group of children out in nature or at a park with nature trails. Hand out a list of things to find in the area or recite the list. Things on the list might include two different leaves, something hard and soft, a bug, something blue or a bird's nest. You may alter this game to turn it into a recycling project. Give each child a plastic bag and gloves, if desired. Ask them to pick up anything that is made of plastic. The child who finds the most plastic items wins the game.
Bird Hawks
In this fast-moving game, children can learn about a bird hawk's behavior in its natural habitat. Explain to a group of children how bird hawks learn to survive at a young age. To protect themselves from prey, they learn to quickly flutter onto tree branches or return to their nests. Once they are adult bird hawks, they become excellent hunters themselves and pose a threat to unaware birds. Choose one or two kids to play hawks and the rest to play baby birds. Place several birds' nests (e.g., cardboard boxes) on the ground to accommodate small groups of children. Start the game by asking the baby birds to go off on an adventure to find food. Once they are scattered around the area, asks the hawks to fly around the birds with their arms extended out like wings. The baby birds must save themselves by returning to their nests without being tagged. If the birds make a noise while in the nests, they can be tagged out of the game. Tagged birds become the hawks in the next round. If a hawk is unsuccessful after three rounds, he becomes a baby bird and a new hawk is chosen.