Animal Tracks Walk
What you need
- wellies
- a small coat, hat and gloves
How to do it
- Wrap up warm and head to a park, a field or a muddy path.
- Look down for prints in mud, frost or snow: little bird feet, dog paws, bike tyres.
- Crouch down at each one and guess who made it and which way they went.
- Stop at any frosty grass, look at it sparkle, and make your own footprints next to an animal's.
- Follow one trail as far as it goes, and see where it leads.
Why it matters
Tracks are a puzzle on the ground, and guessing who made them gets them looking closely and saying what they think.
What they're learning
- Looking closely
- Spotting a faint print in the mud takes careful looking.
- Guessing and explaining
- "It's a bird, because it's tiny" is joining ideas with because.
- Walking further
- A trail to follow keeps legs going on a longer walk.
What to look for
Watch for them spotting a print before you do and telling you who made it.
A tip
Prints show up best after a frost or rain. Hold hands near roads and on icy paths.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: look for any prints at all, even your own
Harder: count the toes in each print and guess the animal from the number
