Mini Beast Hunt

LESSON 1

Children practice slowing down, noticing, and wondering about the tiny creatures that share our world. 

  • Magnifying glasses  

  • Clipboards or drawing pad 

  • Drawing paper  

  • Pencils or crayons  

  • Small containers for temporary observation (optional)  

Materials

Preparations

  • Choose an outdoor space where children can explore.  

  • Gather observation tools (clipboards, pencils, magnifiers)  

  • Create space for children to explore the natural world at their own pace.  

  • Support children in noticing details, asking questions, and sharing their ideas.  

  • Encourage children to document their thinking through drawing, conversation, and storytelling.  

  • Foster a sense of care and connection with the living creatures children encounter. 

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children practice slowing down and looking closely at the small creatures that share our world.  

  • Children express their observations and ideas through drawing, mark-making, and storytelling.  

  • Children develop curiosity as they ask questions and form theories about mini beasts.  

  • Children begin to build care and respect for living things through observation and exploration. 

Objectives for Children

Opening Invitation

Practice singing the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with the actions you came up with.

At night consider saying the “Bedtime” poem to your child.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,  

How I wonder what you are!  

Up above the world so high,  

Like a diamond in the sky.  

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,  

How I wonder what you are! 

Bedtime Poem

(at bedtime you can use a finger to draw the star, the sun, the moon on your child's back) 

 A star for you to wish on, 
A sun so warm and bright, 
A moon for you to sleep on, 
Happy dreams, 
A kiss goodnight. 

Collect and Connect

Gather children together outdoors or in a familiar space. 

Begin by inviting curiosity: 

"I wonder what might be living around us. What do you think we might find in the grass, under rocks, or hiding among the leaves?" 

Listen to children's ideas and theories. 

There is no need to correct or explain. Simply make space for their curiosity and invite them to share what they already notice about the world around them. 

Explain that today they will spend time looking closely for mini beasts and discovering what they can learn through observation. 

Activity Flow

Invite children to explore an outdoor space in search of mini beasts. 

Before beginning, remind children that we are visitors in the homes of these tiny creatures. Encourage them to move slowly, look closely, and observe before touching or moving anything. 

Allow children time to explore at their own pace. Some children may spend a long time observing one creature, while others may enjoy searching for many. 

As children explore, stay close and notice what captures their attention. Support their thinking with open-ended questions: 

  • What do you notice?  

  • What caught your attention?  

  • Where did you find this creature?  

  • What do you wonder about it?  

  • What do you think it is doing?  

  • Why do you think it chose this place to live? 

 Encourage children to notice: 

  • Colors, shapes, and patterns  

  • How the creature moves  

  • Where it chooses to hide or explore  

  • How it interacts with the environment around it 

 If children find a mini beast they would like to observe more closely, they may use a magnifying glass or temporary observation container. Remind children to handle creatures gently and return them to the place where they were found when they are finished observing. 

Documentation Invitation

After exploring, gather children together and revisit the discoveries they made. Explain that artists and scientists often record things they notice so they can remember, share, and think more about their discoveries. 

 Invite children to choose something from their exploration to draw, represent, or tell a story about. You might say: 

"Let's think back to what we discovered today. What is something you want to remember?"

 Provide drawing materials and invite children to represent their ideas in whatever way feels meaningful. 

 Children may choose to: 

  • Draw a mini beast they discovered  

  • Add colors, shapes, or details they noticed  

  • Show where the mini beast was found  

  • Tell a story about their mini beast  

  • Share something they noticed or wondered about 

 Younger children may focus on lines, shapes, colors, and marks. Older children may add labels and details.

Reflection

 Gather children together and invite them to share their discoveries. 

You might ask: 

  • What mini beasts did you find today?  

  • What was something you noticed?  

  • Was there anything that surprised you?  

  • Where did your mini beast choose to live?  

  • What are you still wondering?  

 Invite children to share drawings, stories, or ideas from their exploration. 

 You might say: 

"Today we slowed down and spent time noticing the tiny creatures that share our world. We looked closely, asked questions, and discovered that even the smallest creatures have their own places to live and ways of moving through the world.

I wonder what other mini beasts we might discover if we keep looking closely."