How can a closer examination of the natural world around us relate to our everyday lives?

The Activity

1. This activity will be done outside in order to have students be more physically connected with the outside world, just like Thoreau did at Walden Pond.
2. There is to be absolute silence when outside so that observations can be focused purely on nature without any human interruption
3. We will spend two days observing things in nature. Dress appropriately for the weather and for the outdoor environment.

Directions:

• You will have thirty (30) minutes to write down in complete sentences a list of 5-6 different observations about items in the place you observed, no matter how common or everyday it may seem.
• Sketching the place in detail is strongly encouraged, but not required. Physical characteristics and memories or images that the place evokes are examples of what you could write down.

Assignment:

On Thursday, June 6th you will informally present to the class your particular place and what your observations were. Everyone will be encouraged to offer their own associations, if any, with each place as everyone speaks.

• Lastly, a closing discussion that reemphasizes the omnipresence of nature not only in Thoreau’s world but also our own completes the class period.
• Indicate where in the excerpts from Walden, or Life in the Woods you see at least three examples of Thoreau closely scrutinizing nature around him.
• You will present to the class your views on this topic by creating an effective oral presentation that adds in our discussion about this question.

The complete text on audio files.

Henry David Thoreau Multimedia

Listen to a June 6, 1998, Weekend Edition report on Thoreau and Walden Pond