Be an Animal Tracker

November 1, 2019

Gr 1-3-Attractive photos make these very simple, mostly improvisational activities more substantive than they might seem. The six to eight projects in each book resemble what we used to think of as idle fooling around in the yard or the park. Most of the final creations are ephemeral, but this is not to devalue them. Kids learn about structures and materials when they experiment, and using leaves and sticks means that materials are always available. A few techniques are presented-using paint in a spray bottle, wrapping yarn, or tying knots. Many activities encourage observation, such as looking for faces and patterns in bark or sticks or playing with your shadow. Each book includes safety tips and a list of tools and materials. VERDICT Great ideas for getting outside...and looking at, touching, and playing with what you find there.

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