A Language Arts Lesson to Bring Outdoors
Combine Nature and Writing to Increase Your Students’ Creativity
Mar 9, 2009
Why sit in the classroom during writing class when you can use nature to inspire your students ages nine and older? These activities focus on using metaphors, similes, and descriptive writing. You may want to read a poem or two to your students to arouse creative thinking. Give the students a set amount of time to walk with the group along a nature trail or explore an area where you can watch them. Ask that they use these two, five, or ten minutes to remain silent, yet open to their surroundings.
"I Am an Acorn" Metaphor Writing Activity
Ask your students to each select one item in nature that they can point to or hold in their hand. After the students display their objects to the class, each person in turn has to explain any traits he or she shares, or would like to share, with this object.
Start by saying, “I am a _____” and then following the statement with an explanation. For example, “I am an acorn. I am beginning. Someday I will become a mighty protector.” “I am a fern. I do not stand alone but with many others.”
"I Am Like a Tree" Simile Writing Activity
Gather different items from the natural surroundings. Pick up two items and tell the students that they will work on their creativity as well as similes by connecting items that seem to have nothing obvious in common. The results may be silly or profound.
Have the children sit in a circle and get things started with some questions: How is an ant like a flower? How are clouds like trees? Once everyone realizes there are no right or wrong answers, the similes will start flying.
Create Word Pictures
Pretend that the objects around you lack names. What would you call the trees or the flowers based on their appearances? Don’t forget to name streams and rocks. Encourage creation instead of judgment.
Grass could become: tickle-green, whisper stalks, ladybug ladders
Oak leaves could be called: fairy boats, tree fingers, squirrel umbrellas, wind voices
Silly Scientific Names
This is a fun game to introduce to anyone who enjoys puns and riddles that rely on word play. You will need a field guide to nature so you can show your students a few of the scientific names for common plants or animals.
You don’t need to remember what the different elements of Latin translate to, but you can explain to the children that scientists name the things around them based on the characteristics of the object. The Latin names are a way for scientists to know they are talking about the same thing. The children will create scientific-sounding names (flavored with a hefty dose of humor) for the objects they encounter on the trail.
Examples of real scientific names:
- Parus atricapillus (Black-capped chickadee)
- Rana sylvatica (Wood frog)
- Sassafras albidum (Sassafras tree)
Examples of silly scientific names:
- Acorna droponheada (Oak tree)
- Seede stealalota (Gray squirrel)
The “Nice” Descriptive Writing Activity
Use this activity to encourage descriptive language and eliminate vague statements, such as, “The walk was nice,” or “The flowers are pretty.”
Ask the students if they found their class time outdoors a nice experience. Point out that “nice” is a vague word that doesn’t say much about an experience because everyone perceives things in different ways. Consider riding on a roller coaster. One person may get off a roller coaster and say the experience was “fun” while another person would describe it as “scary.” Ask each student to list five specific statements describing their time outdoors.
It isn’t necessary to incorporate all of these activities into a single class. The first time your students go outside, their excitement about a break in routine may leave you time to do no more than a single activity. Encourage observation and stillness, as it will relax the students’ judgment and allow for creation.
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