Take a Walk

Whether planned or spontaneous, taking a walk is a great way to spend time with each other and discover your environment without spending a lot of money. The best things about walks are that they are adaptable: you can take a walk indoors or out, in an urban area or rural area, a new place or a familiar place, and in all types of weather.

Through walks, children can actively explore, follow directions, make observations and inferences, ask questions, and compare and contrast things in their indoor, outdoor, and at-home environments. Real, practical experiences such as these encourage problem-solving and adds to the understanding of experiences.

When planning a walk, consider these suggestions:

1. Gather Information – take the walk yourself ahead of time. Any obstacles or unforeseen concerns? Interesting things to point out along the way?

2. Talk About It – Advance notice can get children excited and remove some fears. What do the children already know about where you are going? Can they predict what they might find?

3. Safety Rules – Let children know where the boundaries are (crossing streets; staying on a path); walk with a buddy; stop when told to stop. Look for and encourage positive behaviors.

4. Integrate with Curriculum – Provide books related to there experience (I Went Walking by Sue Williams is good one to start with); make a book of findings to encourage writing skills and invite children to revisit themes throughout the year; create or select music to support your walk (try Who are the People in Your Neighborhood? from Sesame Street); extend dramatic play by making prop boxes with materials that focus on the walk (neighborhoods, careers, animals, etc.)

5. Assess Learning – After the walk, help children think about what they have learned. Talk as a group, encourage writing and drawing, or create a chart of objects found or photographs taken.

Try some of these ideas to get you started:

•Discover Water Resources –Where can you find water? In a sink? A swimming pool? A creek?

•Above and Below Walk – What can you find that is above your head? Below your head? Add other concepts such as over/under, up/down, in front of/behind.

•Flashlight Walk – Perfect for a rainy day! Darken the room and use a flashlight to shine light on specific items in the room; ask children to recall what they saw.

•Indoor Magnet Walk – Create a list of objects for children to test. Draw the items on a record sheet and leave room to draw additional items. After the walk, make a chart of which items are attracted to the magnet and which items are not.

•Marvelous Machines – If there is current construction in the neighborhood, ask the contractor if is okay to observe from a safe distance. On each observation walk, take pictures. These will help facilitate discussion on big machines, careers, building structures, etc. You can also make a book with your pictures. Provide building-related materials in the block area and dramatic play area for children to try their own hand at construction.

Adapted from:
Peachin Wineberg, Lenore. (Winter 1997). Walks: An effective approach to learning. Texas Child Care.

by Rebecca Veach, Office Professional