Backyard Critters Scavenger Hunt:
When you arrive at your destination, carefully look in bushes, under rocks, along fences, in the dirt or grass, or next to the house or other buildings for critters. Some things you might find in a city or park:
- Rollie-pollies
- Spiders
- Lady bugs
- Moths
- Butterflies
- Worms
- Lizards
- Potato Bugs
- Snails
- Ants
- Beetles
- Birds
- Wild flowers
- Crickets
- Bees
Last Saturday, my son and I found some salamanders and lizards. The guide told us that the California Slender Salamander we observed was common to our part of town. We also saw possum tracks and several beautiful butterflies.
It's always a good idea to talk to your kids about how to handle and examine creatures. Some children get very excited and tend to unintentionally drop, squish or hurt the animal. Have them use the plastic spoons and cups. Carefully scoop the critter into the cup or spoon and examine it that way. Then, when they're done, have them empty the creature back into its habitat where they found it. It's also important that children learn how to respect nature and put animals back in their place.
While you are exploring and examining, take a minute or two and draw pictures or sketches of the critters you have found. The kids can start a nature journal or use the pictures as post cards to send to relatives. Use the camera to take pictures of creatures that you can't touch such as birds, butterflies, bats, rabbits, the neighborhood cat, or skunks! My son likes keeping a running record of the insects he finds and all of their "stats". He writes down their size, color, and location. Then he checks back later to see if the animals has moved on or is still there.
Not only will kids get a kick out of learning about these animals, they will enjoy being out in nature itself. Talk about what you see, hear, smell, and feel. Have the kids write a short paragraph or two about what is happening, what they are feeling. You'll be amazed at how observant children can be about the world around them. My son often wonders how trees and flowers can live in such smoggy air. He likes seeing the symbiosis between living things and writes about that in his nature journal. We often just lie back in the cool grass, the breeze on our cheeks, looking at the sky and clouds. It's very peaceful and
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