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The Un-nature trail

Source: 

The Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve, local schools pack

OBJECTIVE

Time

30 minutes + preparation time

You will need

Did you know?

In nature, colour, shape and patterns are not only used to hide predator and prey from each other, they are also used to warn predators that, for example, a ladybird tastes nasty (so that it is better not to eat it!) and, for example, to let birds know when fruit is ripe. (The plant doesn't benefit if the bird eats the fruit before the seeds are ready).

Before the activity

Prepare the un-nature trail before the children arrive. If you are doing this activity away from the school grounds, you will need a helper to do this for you. Discuss the difference between natural and man-made objects with the children, and the difference between man-made objects made of natural and un-natural materials. 

The activity

  1. On a path or other marked route, set out the trail. Mark the start of the trail. Place your selected objects at intervals along the trail. Some could be very obvious others could be hung from a tree or quite far away. All the objects need to visible from the path. Mark the end of the trail. 
  2. Explain to the class that they are going on an un-nature trail. Normally on a nature reserve you would go on a nature trail to look for animals and plants which belong and live in that habitat. However, on this trail they are going to look for un-natural things which do not belong here. Some may be difficult to see so they must look carefully.
  3. Give each group, or child, paper and a pencil. Ask them to note down what they see, quietly, without alerting other groups.
  4. Set them off in pairs, or in small groups, far enough apart so that they cannot see what the group in front has spotted.
  5. Once everyone has completed the trail, return along the trail, ask the pupils to shout out or point out where the objects are, and one of the pupils can collect the object.
  6. Discuss which objects were the easiest and the hardest to spot, and why. Was just colour important or did shape matter too? Discuss what makes an object look out of place and very visible in its surroundings.

Suggested Follow up

Walk around the school grounds with the group. Ask them to identify natural and man-made objects. Discuss the use and value of the natural and man-made objects.

Discuss litter and why it is unsightly. How does it make them feel when they see litter? How do they react to a place with litter?

Discuss our use of colour and Nature's use of colour. Experiment with the impact of different colours. Give each child two sheets of paper with the word 'STOP' written on it in large capitals. Ask them to colour in or paint one of the signs to make the word stand out and be easy to read. Ask them to paint the other sign so that the word can still be read but is more difficult to see. Hang up all  the signs and see which ones are the most effective at hiding the word / showing the word.

Curriculum Links

Age Range

1, 2