Garden Finds
Garden Finds
Today we look at a flower, leaf, and ladybug while practising three respectful observation actions: look, point, and leave it untouched.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 3–4 months old. Keep each guided activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing from a distance, holding hands back, making a sound, or saying one word all count as meaningful responses. This is not a naming test, and no garden visit is required.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Print in colour on portrait A4 paper with “Fit to page” selected, or show it full-screen. Find the flower, leaf, and ladybug. Then point through look, point, and leave it. Count only the bottom row. Amara does not need to read, identify a real species, touch anything, or answer every prompt.
Goals
- Chinese: understand 花, 叶子, 瓢虫, 看一看, 指一指, and 不触碰 through clear pictures.
- English: meet
flower,leaf,ladybug,look,point, andleave it. - Early math: touch exactly one flower, two leaves, and three ladybugs in the bottom row.
- Movement: practise looking, pointing from a distance, and bringing hands back.
- Nature care: observe unfamiliar insects and plants without touching, picking, smelling closely, or tasting.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above, printed or displayed full-screen.
- No plant, insect, magnifier, collecting container, or outdoor visit is required.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Describe one picture at a time:
- “这是一朵花，我们用眼睛看。”
- “这是一片叶子，可以隔着距离指一指。”
- “这是一只瓢虫，今天只看图片。”
- “不认识的昆虫和植物不触碰、不采摘、不品尝。”
Choose one or two prompts:
- “花在哪里？”
- “哪张图是叶子？”
- “看到陌生昆虫，小手放在哪里？”
If Amara points from a distance, respond: “你在指一指，没有碰它。”
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes, focused on listening, pointing, and safe gestures.
| English | Meaning | Response |
|---|---|---|
flower | 花 | Point to flower picture |
leaf | 叶子 | Point to leaf picture |
ladybug | 瓢虫 | Point to ladybug picture |
look | 看 | Use eyes, hands back |
point | 指 | Point from a distance |
leave it | 不触碰 | Bring hand back |
Use short chunks:
Look with your eyes.Point from here.Leave it there.Hands back.A flower, a leaf, a ladybug.
Accept a look, point, hand movement, sound, or one word. Do not require translation or repetition.
3. Early Math: Flower, Leaves, Ladybugs
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Use only the bottom cards:
- Under 1, touch the one flower once and say
one flower. - Under 2, touch the two separate leaves one at a time and say
one, two. - Under 3, touch the three separate ladybugs one at a time and say
one, two, three.
Do not count petals, spots, legs, or objects in the upper cards. The goal is one touch for one whole pictured item, not numeral recognition.
4. Safety Movement: Look, Point, Leave
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Move away from the screen:
Look— keep both hands behind the back and look gently.Point— extend one finger towards an imaginary picture without stepping closer.Leave it— bring the hand back to the body.Walk with an adult— take two slow indoor steps together.
Use only pretend space. One gesture is enough.
5. Everyday Connection: Observe from Safety
Time: 3–5 minutes only if something is naturally visible.
An adult may point out a plant or insect from a chosen safe distance:
- “我们远远看，不去碰。”
Look with your eyes.Leave it there.
There is no need to search, collect, or go outdoors; the poster is sufficient.
Garden Safety
Do not touch, pick, smell closely, taste, or collect an unfamiliar plant, mushroom, berry, seed, insect, web, or nest. Adults choose the viewing distance and check for stings, bites, thorns, sap, pesticides, and allergies. Wash hands after ordinary outdoor play and follow appropriate medical advice after any exposure or reaction.
Bedtime Recall
- “今天看到了花、叶子和什么？”
- “不认识的昆虫可以怎么观察？”
Flower, leaf, or ladybug?Look, point, or leave it?
Keep it relaxed. Amara may answer with a look, point, hands-back gesture, sound, or one word.