Pre-schoolers use imaginative play to make sense of the world around them. They can create a story based on the clues they find in nature.

Pre-schoolers can use field guides to help identify clues. What animal could have left these footprints in the mud?

Field Guide to Tracks is a great resource to check out!

Pre-schoolers can look closely at the clues they find and draw conclusions based on their observations.
Why would this animal need to have webbed feet? What color is this feather?

Pre-schoolers can observe wildlife in their own backyard.
How does a squirrel move? Does it like to eat anything found in your yard?

Pre-schoolers can observe how the environment changes with the seasons.
What color are leaves in the fall? Why do we see more robins in the spring?

Pre-schoolers can use a magnifying glass to take a closer look or binoculars to see further away. Using tools helps a child get into the role of being a scientist.

Pre-schoolers can also use field guides to learn more about things they have found.
Which animal print in your track guide looks the most like the one we found outside?

Pre-schoolers can recognize numbers on a tape measure or ruler and may attempt to "measure" their tracks or other clues.

They can record their findings by drawing in their naturalist notebook.