Nature Walk Challenge

Activity Overview

Take a nature walk with your student and explore a variety of movement challenges along the way. Bring a container, and while you’re out gather natural loose parts to keep in your home for future activities.

What You Need

• Walking shoes

• Something to collect nature in (a basket, a tote bag, a Tupperware container)

• Your list of movement challenges

Steps

1. On your walk, pick landmarks to move your body between or through such as telephone poles, lamp posts, mailboxes, or anything in your neighborhood. *Make sure your bodies are safe at all times during your walk*

2. Use movement challenges as a way to help your student structure their movements on your walk. Your list of movement challenges is as follows:

• Run as fast as you can

• Tiptoe as quiet as you can

• Walk backwards

• Gallop

• Hop on two feet

• Hop on one foot

• Walk or run in a zigzag motion

• Stomp as hard as you can

3. Along the way, or once you reach your destination, collect about one handful each of whatever natural materials are in your area: sticks, stones, shells, acorns, pinecones or anything else that your student thinks is special. Keep these items in jars or a Tupperware as they will be used for future activities.

Extensions

• If you are in an area where you have walls and curbs, use them as a balance beams.

• If you are in an area where you can put hands and feel on the ground try walking like a crab, or walking like a bear. Ask your student what other animals they can imitate.

• For older students, use this list of more difficult motor challenges:

  • Side step with you left foot in front

  • Side step with your right foot in front

  • Run backwards

  • Run in slow motion

  • Walk as slow as you can

  • Walk in a zigzag motion backwards

  • Use a sidewalk crack as a balance beam

  • Play lava - do not touch any cracks in the sidewalk!