Activity: Exploring Plant and Animal Life

Learn about the plant and animal life in your area to gain more appreciation for the world Heavenly Father created for you.

Where possible, hold this activity in a park or other open area where birds and animals can be found. Divide youth into pairs and invite each pair to go outside and identify as many types of plant and animal life as possible in a set amount of time. They could draw what they see, make a list, or take pictures. They could also take notes on the habitat or any animal behavior they observe. Come together as a group and discuss what each pair saw and learned. Youth could also search for additional information online about the plants and animals they saw.

As you plan this activity, please follow the counsel and guidelines provided at the Church’s Safety and Health website.

Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.

• Use simple resources to make a bird feeder. For example, you could fill the peel from half an orange with sunflower seeds, or you could fill a clean plastic bottle with birdseed and cut a hole in the side.
• Invite an expert to teach your group the basics of tracking the wildlife in your area. Learn what different animal footprints look like, how to tell if an animal was walking or running, and how to spot feeding signs, such as gnawed-on twigs. Then go outside and practice your skills.
• Find an animal, bird, or wildlife refuge near you, and schedule a time to visit or volunteer. It might be fun to take materials to draw pictures of the plants and animals you see. If you have a camera, bring it with you and take pictures. You could also visit or volunteer at a zoo, aviary, animal shelter, or pet store.

Encourage youth to talk about how what they are learning can help them and others grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity and should last just a few minutes. You could ask questions like the following:

• Why is it important to love and appreciate nature?
• When have you been inspired by spending time in nature?
• How can appreciating nature increase our love for Jesus Christ?

• Tom Reese, “Earth: A Gift from God,” Ensign, Feb. 2013, 40–43

• Protecting and Preserving the Environment
• Learning to Cook Outdoors
• Go on a Hike
• Outdoor Survival Skills
• Outdoor Camping
• Taking Care of the World God Created
• Conducting Music
• Exploring Music
• Exploring Art Skills
• Learn Sports Skills
• Emergency Preparedness Skills
• Learning to Cook Healthy Food
• Exploring Career and Educational Opportunities
• Young Women Camp
• Aaronic Priesthood Encampments