how can nature teach us to think?

What is observation, and why does it matter? We are going to use our outside surroundings as a classroom this week to practice honing our observation skills, which are a key element to critical thinking. Why? Because we have to notice to think.

Module summary:

• discuss how to observe effectively
• practice observing outside:
  • nature walk
  • sit 'n study
  • object poem
  • landmark directions
• discuss, write, and reflect along the way

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essential questions

• How do we read a complex text for comprehension?
• How does descriptive language enhance writing?
• How do we respond thoughtfully to someone else's ideas?

goals

• Students will understand that using predicting skills, annotating the text, and re-reading help us stay engaged when reading complex texts.
• Students will understand that descriptive language helps us be more specific in our writing and keeps a reader engaged by creating mental images.

activities

Monday 

• warm-up: observation practice
  • write as much about a picture as you can in five minutes (check with Christine if you need to make this up on your own)
• outside location: soccer fields/river
• review close reading strategies
  • chunk the text
  • write summary in left margin
  • write connections between you and the text in the right margin [NOTES]
• read: "How to Boost Your Observation Skills"
  • use close reading strategies
  • discuss
• investigate a tree from multiple angles - record observations [NOTES]
• take a nature walk along river trail and record observations based on five senses [NOTES]
• debrief: what helped you observe better? what did the experience mean for you?

Tuesday

• outside location: South Main green
• sit in one spot for seven minutes and record observations [NOTES]
• "Go Inside a _____" poem activity
  • Read Charles Simic's poem
  • Observe your own object (Christine will provide)
  • Write a poem based on this object
• Share poems - try to guess objects

Wednesday

• outside location: various
  
• sit in one spot for seven minutes and record observations [NOTES]
  
• use observation skills to write out directions for a walk
  
  • write out instructions for a walk based on observable landmarks, no proper nouns or use of "blocks"
  • we will test out walks using your directions
• use words and phrases from notes (anything marked [NOTES]) to create a found poem about observation

Thursday

• No class (all-school high ropes course field trip)

Friday​​

• type up written pieces
  • Go inside a... poem
  • Directions for a walk
  • Found poem
• final object observation test

c-tachs

Writing

• Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

Reading

• Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research
• Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence

Language

• Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
• Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
• Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meaning 

documents

Outdoor Writing Module Syllabus
File Size:	41 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Refer to your Reading and Writing Handbook for literary terms (p. 20) and close reading strategies (p. 39)

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