Noticing Small Things

Activities and opportunities to see and enjoy more around you - for yourself and/or your students.

Wild Turkey by John James Audubon

Read and Listen

‍There is always more to see and explore in nature. For instance, did you know that plants can sing (sort of)? Joe Patitucci has created a device which measures the water moving in plants and converts it to sound. Enjoy learning more about this recent project.

Go Outdoors

Take a piece of paper and a pencil and go outside. Find a place to sit down. Divide your paper into 4 quadrants (you are in the middle). Now close your eyes and listen. What do you hear? What direction is it coming from? From how far away? What else do you hear? Plot these sounds on your paper. When you think you've heard everything there is to hear, listen for another few minutes. Spend 10-15 minutes listening and noting down sounds on your map, then look at it and reflect. What surprises you? Consider sharing this activity with others (here are more details on leading this activity with a group).

Look

‍Study the picture above. Notice everything you can and try to remember it. Close your eyes. Can you still imagine the picture? Look again. Now look away. Tell everything you remember without looking. Notice the details. What birds are you seeing in your area these days?

‍Share‍

What inspired you?

Further Resources

• ‍The Curious Naturalist by Sy Montgomery
• ‍Audubon by Jennifer Armstrong
• ‍What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz

“Do not let the endless succession of small things crowd great ideals out of sight and out of mind.” ~Charlotte Mason