Lesson Plan

Copy a class set of the Student Page (See Ready to Print).
Take a walk around your school and preselect places with colors you want to emphasize.
Review Related Resources and select a book or website to introduce the activity.
Decide how/if you want to utilize parent helpers.
Download a copy of DeColores (by Raffi) with lyrics so you can sing it with your students (See Related Resources).
Gather the following materials:
- sandwich bags (outdoor exploration)
- glue or tape
- pencils

Get Set!!!

Share the book Nature Spy by Shelley Rotner and Ken Kreisler with your students to build excitement about their upcoming outdoor experience. (see Related Resources for a summary of this and other suggested books).
Discuss appropriate behaviors for a school hike.
Set clear expectations for how and when you want students to collect samples.
Discuss respect for nature
- respect for living things
- samples collected should be quarter-sized or smaller and should not cause harm to living things
Explain how this activity is grouped:
- story (or website)
- hike
- classroom activity
- song

Go!!!

Take students outdoors, stopping at selected points to collect color samples.

PutItAllTogether (back in the classroom)

Model for students how to attach their colorful items to the Student Page.
Allow time for students to attach items.
Display color words (i.e., blue, green) and spell them aloud as students write them onto their Student Page.
Sing the song DeColores. (See Related Resources)