Observe your land
Survey a small outdoor area to record plants, animals, and features using simple sketches, notes, and measurements to learn about local ecosystems.
About this activity
Survey a small outdoor area to record plants, animals, and features using simple sketches, notes, and measurements to learn about local ecosystems.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Gather all the materials listed and carry them to the outdoor area.
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Step 2
Pick a small safe area to study like a patch of yard garden or park corner.
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Step 3
Use the ruler or tape measure to mark a square about 5 meters across using sticks or rocks as corners.
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Step 4
Draw the outline of your marked area in your notebook.
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Step 5
Write NORTH at the top of your drawn map.
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Step 6
Walk slowly inside the marked area and look carefully for plants animals and features.
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Step 7
When you find a plant make a simple sketch of it in your notebook.
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Step 8
Use your ruler to measure one part of that plant such as its height or a leaf length.
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Step 9
Write the measurement next to the matching plant sketch in your notebook.
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Step 10
Make a quick drawing of any animal or sign you find such as tracks nests or feathers.
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Step 11
Mark the location of each animal sighting or sign on your map with a small symbol.
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Step 12
Count nonliving features like rocks logs or puddles and write the numbers on your map.
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Step 13
Add color to your sketches with your colouring materials to make the map easy to read.
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Step 14
Share your finished survey on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I guide my child to survey a small outdoor area and record plants, animals, and features?
To run a land-survey activity, pick a safe, bounded area and set a time limit. Have your child draw a simple map, then walk slowly, making sketches and brief notes of plants, animals, tracks, and features. Measure distances or plant heights with a ruler or tape, note weather and time, and take photos when helpful. Use field guides or apps to help identify species. Compare records over multiple visits to see changes.
What materials do I need to survey our yard and record plants and wildlife with my child?
Materials are simple: a notebook or clipboard and pencils for sketches and notes, crayons or colored pencils, tape measure or ruler for basic measurements, magnifying glass, smartphone or camera for photos, local field guide or ID app, and a small bag for non-destructive samples. Also pack water, sunscreen, hats, and first-aid supplies. Optional: binoculars for birds and a laminated checklist to mark observations.
What ages is this land-survey activity suitable for?
Suitable ages vary: preschoolers (3–5) can join as 'nature detectives' with close adult help for pointing, simple sketches, and collecting leaves. Elementary children (6–10) can make maps, record measurements, and use ID guides with supervision. Tweens and teens (11+) can lead systematic surveys, take detailed notes, and compare data over time. Adapt tasks to attention span and motor skills, keeping safety and supervision appropriate to age.
What are the benefits of surveying your land with children?
Surveying your land teaches observational science and critical thinking while building map-reading, measurement, and recording skills. Children learn local species, seasonal changes, and stewardship, increasing curiosity and environmental awareness. Repeating surveys improves data collection and comparison skills, strengthens parent-child teamwork, and encourages outdoor exercise and sensory development. These activities also create lasting records that spark questions for further learning and s
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a ruler, tape measure, sticks, or a notebook if we don't have them?
Use a length of string or a stretched shoelace to mark 5 meters (measure the string against a known door height or count adult strides), use small rocks or a jacket to mark corners instead of sticks, and record sketches on any scrap paper or a clipboard in place of a notebook.
What should we do if the 5-meter square keeps moving or plant measurements are hard to take?
Anchor corners by pushing sticks deeper into the ground or weighing rocks down and re-measure with your ruler or string, and if a plant moves in wind measure a stable part (like total height from ground or a single leaf you can hold gently) to record next to your sketch.
How can we adapt the activity for younger children or teens?
For preschoolers reduce the plot to 1–2 meters and focus on counting and colouring found items while an adult handles measurements, for elementary kids keep the 5-meter square and have them sketch and label NORTH, and for teens add species ID, precise ruler measurements, and data notes to prepare for uploading the survey to DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize our land survey before posting it on DIY.org?
Add a legend and scale to your notebook map, use a compass or smartphone to set NORTH accurately, attach photos of each plant or animal sign to your sketches, and repeat the survey over time to show changes before sharing on DIY.org.