Focus & Observe
An article on building science skills with a fun and simple prop.
Real binoculars can be expensive and tricky for young children to adjust, but a simple homemade prop can make any outdoor walk feel like a wildlife adventure. Tape together two cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tolls to create a tool that inspires focus and observation. Children can decorate them however they like (for safety, avoid string).
Looking through their binoculars can help children slow down, avoid distractions, and focus their observations. Concentration takes practice; it helps to zero in on one thing at a time, without other “clutter” in sight. Clearing away other things and zeroing in one sense—sight—can build children’s ability to concentrate and sharpen their “noticing skills.”
You might challenge children to:
- Notice and follow cloud shapes or airplanes in the sky as they move
- Look at things that are far and near
- Take turns playing “I Spy”, naming detailed observations of various areas of the landscape (“On the tree trunk I spy a beetle”)
NOTE: With or without binoculars (whether they’re real or pretend!), of course, children should never look directly at the sun.
A Walk Around the Block
An article exploring opportunities for outdoor learning.
Look Up, Look Down
Counting Outdoors: Memory Match
A concentration-style counting game featuring things children see in the natural world.
Learn & Grow: Inside, Outside, on the Go
Learning can happen anytime, anywhere—inside, outside, or on the go!
Learning Party Lyrics
Every day can be a celebration of learning. Keep the music going!
Sesame Street Back to School Music Playlist
This curated playlist is perfect for both little learners and educators alike! A mix of energetic hits and mellow tunes sets the mood for getting into the learning groove.
