There is no reason not to start Today. Right now.
Here are the first 31 prompts to get you started.
Prompt #31
In the environment around you, find something soft. It can’t be an animal, and it can’t be manmade. Explore leaves, grasses, ground cover, and anything else you can think of in order to find the softest thing.
In the environment around you, find something soft. It can’t be an animal, and it can’t be manmade. Explore leaves, grasses, ground cover, and anything else you can think of in order to find the softest thing.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #30
Go for a walk and pay particular attention to all the different shadows you see.
Go for a walk and pay particular attention to all the different shadows you see.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #29
Find something small that you like–a rock, leaf, twig, bug, etc. Then create/find a much larger replica of it using any materials you can find. You could use many, many leaves to create one big leaf that looks like your little one; you could find big branches to place together to match the shape of your twig, etc.
Find something small that you like–a rock, leaf, twig, bug, etc. Then create/find a much larger replica of it using any materials you can find. You could use many, many leaves to create one big leaf that looks like your little one; you could find big branches to place together to match the shape of your twig, etc.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #28
Listen for the sounds of animals (like birds) and try to imitate them. See if you can convince any animals that you are also the same kind of animal.
Listen for the sounds of animals (like birds) and try to imitate them. See if you can convince any animals that you are also the same kind of animal.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #27
Take a walk around your neighborhood and pick up any trash you see. Try to find at least five pieces. If there is no trash to pick up, find any out-of-place sticks on your path and place them somewhere more fitting.
Take a walk around your neighborhood and pick up any trash you see. Try to find at least five pieces. If there is no trash to pick up, find any out-of-place sticks on your path and place them somewhere more fitting.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #26
Find ten different kinds of flowers or plants and smell them.
Find ten different kinds of flowers or plants and smell them.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #25
Try to find something purple in nature. It can be alive or not alive; it just can’t be manmade.
Try to find something purple in nature. It can be alive or not alive; it just can’t be manmade.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #24
Go outside and look around. Imagine you have no tools. Look around yourself and see what might be of use to you. What's the sharpest thing you can find? How about the roundest? Does it hold water? What could you use for shoes?
Go outside and look around. Imagine you have no tools. Look around yourself and see what might be of use to you. What's the sharpest thing you can find? How about the roundest? Does it hold water? What could you use for shoes?
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #23
Walk out of your house and immediately start looking for plants. See how many different kinds you can spot. See how far you have to walk before you've found 20 different kinds.
Walk out of your house and immediately start looking for plants. See how many different kinds you can spot. See how far you have to walk before you've found 20 different kinds.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #22
Go for a bike/scooter/skateboard ride (a real one where you have to use your legs, not an electric or other-powered one).
Go for a bike/scooter/skateboard ride (a real one where you have to use your legs, not an electric or other-powered one).
Materials Needed:
Bike/Scooter/Skateboard
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Prompt #21
Collect textures from the environment around you. Do this by covering the texture with a paper and shading it with a pencil. Try to get as many different textures as you can on one page.
Collect textures from the environment around you. Do this by covering the texture with a paper and shading it with a pencil. Try to get as many different textures as you can on one page.
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pencil
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Prompt #20
Find the quietest place. If the creatures in your area are quite loud, you can simply try to find a place that’s quiet of manmade sounds.
Find the quietest place. If the creatures in your area are quite loud, you can simply try to find a place that’s quiet of manmade sounds.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #19
Locate a tree you’re interested in. With a paper and pencil, write down everything you notice about this tree. Spend as much time as you can doing this. Ideally, you’ll write down at least twenty-five things you notice about this tree.
Locate a tree you’re interested in. With a paper and pencil, write down everything you notice about this tree. Spend as much time as you can doing this. Ideally, you’ll write down at least twenty-five things you notice about this tree.
Materials Needed:
Paper
Pencil
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Prompt #18
Have somebody pick out different things–leaves, berries, dirt, etc., and hold them up to your nose. With your eyes closed, try to guess the color based on the scent. If you don’t have someone to do this with, collect some items on your own. Then, close your eyes, mix them up, and see if you can identify each thing using only your sense of smell.
Have somebody pick out different things–leaves, berries, dirt, etc., and hold them up to your nose. With your eyes closed, try to guess the color based on the scent. If you don’t have someone to do this with, collect some items on your own. Then, close your eyes, mix them up, and see if you can identify each thing using only your sense of smell.
Materials Needed:
Found items/objects
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Prompt #17
Using your fingers, pens, or anything else, find various objects outside to tap on until you find one that sounds great. Make a little song using your newfound drum.
Using your fingers, pens, or anything else, find various objects outside to tap on until you find one that sounds great. Make a little song using your newfound drum.
Materials Needed:
Found objects or nothing at all
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Prompt #16
Find a plant that is your height or shorter. Measure how tall it is (either precisely–with a tape measure or ruler–or with your body, for example: "up to my elbow") and make a note. Try to remember to measure again next year and see how much it grew.
Find a plant that is your height or shorter. Measure how tall it is (either precisely–with a tape measure or ruler–or with your body, for example: "up to my elbow") and make a note. Try to remember to measure again next year and see how much it grew.
Materials Needed:
Tape measure, ruler, or nothing at all
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Prompt #15
Find different tire tracks in some dirt near you and try to figure out what vehicle made them.
Find different tire tracks in some dirt near you and try to figure out what vehicle made them.
Additional: Take pictures of the tracks you find and document your guesses. (Maybe you’ll run into a vehicle with tire treads that match and you can see if you were correct!)
Materials Needed:
Camera (for additional step)
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Prompt #14
Write a message using natural things and leave it for somebody else to find. (An acceptable example is writing in dirt with a stick. An unacceptable example would be anything permanent or that damages your environment.)
Write a message using natural things and leave it for somebody else to find. (An acceptable example is writing in dirt with a stick. An unacceptable example would be anything permanent or that damages your environment.)
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #13
Spot the sounds of 10 different animals. You can break this up to do it throughout the day, or you can do it all in one sitting. Examples of good animals to listen for include (but are not limited to) birds, dogs, crickets, cows, frogs, bees, mice, coyotes, wolves, and lions.
Spot the sounds of 10 different animals. You can break this up to do it throughout the day, or you can do it all in one sitting. Examples of good animals to listen for include (but are not limited to) birds, dogs, crickets, cows, frogs, bees, mice, coyotes, wolves, and lions.
Materials Needed:
None
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Prompt #12
Take a (good) book outside with you. Find a shaded spot to sit (this can be on a log, the ground, a bench, or any other suitable seat). Read your book for a few minutes. If you want to keep reading, do so. If you don’t, feel free to explore.
Take a (good) book outside with you. Find a shaded spot to sit (this can be on a log, the ground, a bench, or any other suitable seat). Read your book for a few minutes. If you want to keep reading, do so. If you don’t, feel free to explore.
Materials Needed:
A good book
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