• String or yarn
• Magnifying glasses

• Designate a large, outdoor area.
• Cut string or yarn into five-foot lengths.

Children explore, using their imaginations.

Give each child a five-foot string or piece of yarn. Ask each child to lay the length of the string on the most interesting ground they can find outside. Tell the group to pretend that they have shrunk to the size of an ant, beetle, or other small creature.

Give each child a magnifying glass. Invite children to explore the ground along their string, using the magnifying glasses. Ask them to keep their eyes not higher than one foot above the ground. If the ground isn't wet, encourage them to lie on their bellies while exploring.

After the micro-hike, invite the children to share their observations:

• What did you see on your journey as a tiny creature?
• Did you see things that you don't normally see? Why or why not?
• Did you know you were in a habitat?
• What do small creatures need to live in their habitat? Did you see any of those things?
• What is the habitat for humans?
• What do humans need to live?
• Would you like to be an ant or small creature for a day? For a week? For a year? Why or why not?