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Backyard Explorer 3 to 5 / Week 01 / Wednesday
3/6
Week 01 · The Field Notebook

Wednesday

Using your senses
// Observe, record and wonder like a naturalist
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Using Your Senses

Rocket sits at his new spot with his eyes shut tight. "I hear a buzz. And a drip. And a car."

Raven writes fast in her notebook. "Three sounds already."

Rocket opens his eyes and sniffs. "Something smells like wet dirt."

Nova projects a small cyan map of the yard. "Eyes see one slice," she says. "Ears and nose fill in the rest."

More than eyes

Most people observe with their eyes and stop there.

A naturalist uses more senses. Each one collects different information.

Your ears catch things your eyes miss, like a bird hidden behind a leaf.

Your nose notices rain coming, fresh cut grass or a flower you cannot see.

Your skin feels wind, warm sun and cool shade.

All this information travels to your brain. Your brain puts it together into a picture.

SenseUse it at your sit spotSafe?
sightLook up, down and far away. Look for movement.Yes
hearingClose your eyes for one minute. Count the sounds.Yes
smellBreathe in. Notice dirt, rain, grass or flowers.Yes
touchFeel the wind, the sun, bark on a tree you know.Only safe things
tasteNever taste anything outdoors.No
Safety first
Never taste anything you find outside. Some plants and berries can make you very sick.
Touch only safe things: wind, sun, a smooth rock, bark on a tree you know.
Never touch a wild animal, insect, nest, egg, mushroom or unknown plant.
Stay with your grown-up and wash your hands afterwards.
WHICH SENSE?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You notice a cricket chirping but cannot see it. Which sense did you use?
You notice the air smells like rain. Which sense did you use?
Which sense should you never use outdoors?
You feel a cool breeze on your arm. Which sense did you use?

Senses send, brain sorts

Here is how an observation works inside you.

A sense organ, like your ear, picks up a signal. The signal travels to your brain.

Your brain figures out what it means. Then you can respond.

You hear a chirp. Your brain says "bird". You turn your head to look.

Animals do this too. A rabbit hears a snap, its brain says "danger", and it runs.

FROM SOUND TO ACTION
  • ?Your brain decides it is a bird.
  • ?The signal travels to your brain.
  • ?Your ear picks up the sound.
  • ?A bird chirps behind a leaf.
  • ?You turn your head to look.
WHY THIS EXERCISESense, signal, brain, response. That is how every observation works.
Which sense catches a bird you cannot see?
Which sense should you never use outdoors?
Signals from your senses travel to your ____.
StatementTrue or false?
A naturalist uses only sight.?
Your nose can notice things your eyes cannot see.?
It is safe to taste a berry if it looks pretty.?
A signal from your ear travels to your brain.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEMany senses help. Taste is never one of them outdoors.
Try it
Sit at your sit spot. Close your eyes for one whole minute.
Count every sound. Then open your eyes and sniff the air.
Tell your grown-up one thing you heard and one thing you smelled.
Make a sound map. Put yourself in the middle. Draw each sound where you heard it.

Great sensing, naturalist! Tomorrow you set up your field notebook the way scientists do.

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