How do animals help nature?

Materials:

Matching card sets, Animal  

Bug picture cards

Nature/plant picture cards

Small trays for organizing cards

Velcro dots or magnets (optional)

Create a setting/environment

Nature materials such as leaves, sticks, flowers, and stones

Animal figurines, if available

Instructions:

1. Place the animal cards face down in one area and the nature cards face down in another.

2. A child turns over one animal card and names it.

3. They look for the picture showing what that animal helps in nature.

4. When they find a match, invite the child to explain how they think the animals help or they can act it out.

5. Talk together about how different animals and bugs have different jobs as Guardians of the Earth.

Powerful InterACTions - PK3:

• How do you think this animal/bug helps nature/the world?

• Where do you think we could find this animal/bug?

• What might happen if this animal was not here?

• How are these two animal helpers different?

Powerful InterACTions - PK4:

• Why do you think this animal is important?

• What might happen if this animal was not here?

• How are these two animal helpers different?

• How do you think this animal connects to plants or other animals?