What's Near Home?
Make a neighborhood map and do a scavenger survey, noting plants, landmarks, and sounds to learn what's near your home.
About this activity
Make a neighborhood map and do a scavenger survey, noting plants, landmarks, and sounds to learn what's near your home.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Ask an adult for permission to go outside and explore the area near your home.
- 2
Step 2
Gather your materials and put them on your clipboard so they are easy to use.
- 3
Step 3
Choose a safe starting spot to be the center of your map like your front door or a mailbox.
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Step 4
Walk to your chosen starting spot and stand there to begin.
- 5
Step 5
Put your paper on the clipboard and mark the starting spot with a dot.
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Step 6
Write "You are here" next to your dot so you know where the map begins.
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Step 7
Walk slowly along one route for about 10 minutes while looking carefully around you.
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Step 8
Stop and write or sketch each plant you see so you remember what grows nearby.
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Step 9
Pause and listen quietly for one minute at different spots and write down any sounds you hear.
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Step 10
Draw simple symbols on your paper for landmarks you find like trees benches or signs.
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Step 11
Measure distances between important landmarks using a ruler or by counting your steps and label those distances on the map.
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Step 12
Make a map key that explains each symbol and the colors you will use.
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Step 13
Colour and decorate your map and put any small finds into your bag with a note saying where you found them.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished map and scavenger survey on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I do the 'What's Near Home?' neighborhood map and scavenger survey activity?
To do 'What's Near Home?', start by sketching a simple base map of your house and nearby streets on paper. Take a short walk together, carrying pencils and a clipboard. Note plants, landmarks, and sounds using symbols or stickers, and mark where each item was found. Do a quick scavenger survey tally (trees, mailboxes, bird calls). Back home, compare notes, add labels or photos, and talk about surprising finds or questions to investigate next.
What materials do I need to make a neighborhood map and do a scavenger survey?
You'll need paper or a notebook, pencils, clipboards, a few colored markers or crayons, and stickers for mapping symbols. Bring a camera or smartphone for photos and sound recordings, a magnifying glass, field guide or plant ID app, measuring tape or pace counter, and a small tote for collecting safe samples. Don't forget sunscreen, water, and a first-aid kit. Use ziplock bags for tiny samples and permission if entering private property.
What ages is the 'What's Near Home?' activity suitable for?
This activity works for toddlers through teens with adult guidance. Ages 3–5 enjoy spotting and simple sticker maps with short walks; 6–9 can draw maps, tally surveys, and label finds; 10–14 can measure distances, use apps to identify species, and record sounds. Adjust walk length and complexity to attention span, and always provide supervision for younger children and clear boundaries for independent older kids.
What are the benefits and safety tips for doing a neighborhood map and scavenger survey?
Benefits include improved observation, map-reading, science skills, vocabulary, exercise, and stronger connection to neighborhood and community. It teaches children to notice biodiversity, landmarks and sounds, and encourages questions and research. Safety tips: always supervise, stay on sidewalks, set clear boundaries, avoid private property and unknown plants, wear appropriate clothing, carry water and a phone, and teach children to ask permission before approaching people or pets.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of a clipboard, ruler, or colored pencils if we don't have them?
If you don't have a clipboard use a piece of sturdy cardboard or a closed book to hold your paper, count steps instead of a ruler to label distances, and use regular pencils, markers, or crayon pieces to colour the map.
What should we do if we can't identify plants or miss sounds while doing the sketching and one-minute listening steps?
If you can't identify a plant while sketching or miss a sound during the one-minute listening stops, take a photo or a short voice recording with a phone and mark that spot on your paper so you can identify it later.
How can I adapt the activity for different age groups during the 10-minute walk and mapping steps?
For younger kids shorten the walk to 5 minutes, use stickers or simple stamps for symbols and adult help with the 'You are here' dot, while older kids can measure distances with a ruler, add compass directions, and write detailed notes to post on DIY.org.
How can we enhance or personalize our finished map and scavenger finds before sharing on DIY.org?
To enhance your map make a clear map key, decorate with colors tied to plant types, press a labeled leaf or small find into your bag with a note of where it was collected, and photograph the route for a slideshow to share on DIY.org.