As a tree ages, its wood rots. Empty spaces – hollows – are then created inside its trunk or branches. They are shaped by water, wind and the work of woodpeckers. Tree hollows provide shelter primarily for bats, but they can also be inhabited by pollinating insects, e.g. bees.
While playing with the animation scarf, we will try to find what the hole is hiding. But remember to never do this in real life. Pushing your hands into tree holes may result in unpleasant bites.
Goal:
- Sensory learning about different parts of trees and other natural elements surrounding it
Time: 15 minutes
MATERIALS
- animation scarf
- small, natural elements collected around the tree (e.g. cones, bark fragments, needles, leaves, blades of grass, stones)
- scarves optional
Task flow
- Children stand in columns on both sides of the scarf, i.e. from the inside of the tree hollow and opposite it. Children on the inside have their eyes closed or additionally tied with a scarf.
- Children “from the outside” take turns presenting the items they brought to the table for guessing. If the first child from the inner column fails to guess the item, the next child from the inner column tries to do so. When the item is named correctly, the participant changes and the next item is substituted.
The post was created as part of a project co-financed by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt in cooperation with the Naturschutzzentrum Oberlausitzer Bergland.
