A Summer Collection Walk

[20 Minutes]

Get some fresh air and exercise with your child as he looks for nonliving treasures of summer!

You'll need:

• empty shoebox • crayons or markers

What to do:

1. Invite your child to take a summer walk to collect nonliving things outside. Talk with him about whether the following things are living or nonliving: a pebble, a bird, a feather, a flower growing in the garden, a rock, a shell, a crawling insect, etc. Talk about why it is not a good idea to collect things that are alive.
2. As you walk along, let your child point out things that he believes are nonliving and wishes to collect. Talk about each one and let him bring them home to show and save in the shoebox (if they are not alive).
3. Invite your child to decorate the box with crayons and markers.
4. Label the box "Summer."

How to use:

1. Each season, start a new box. Encourage your child to compare the contents of the boxes.
2. Talk about the things that are different and those that are the same.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• Do you like making collections?
• How many things did you put in your Summer Box? Is the box full?
• Would you like to go on another walk and collect more things?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop large muscle skills, eye/hand coordination, and sorting skills.