
Nature is all around us. Nature gives us the gifts of sunlight, air, water, soil, food, energy, and the beauty of life. It is the reason that we are all here. “Nature” is as old as Earth itself. Our planet and life have undergone continuous evolution over the past 4.54 billion years, since the formation of the solar nebula. The formation of the crust and oceans, as well as the emergence of the earliest microbial life around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago, developed through periods of activity and inactivity.
We are alive in Nature because of the gifts it gives of life on Earth. It is the reason we are here. Without Nature, humans would not, could not, survive. Nature offers us services such as clean air, clean water, food, biodiversity, habitats, and diverse ecosystems. Across the breadth of different continents, diverse oceans, mountains, valleys, plains, forests, grasslands, rivers, and lakes, the world has developed into biomes, each with different topographies, climates, temperatures, precipitation, plants, animals, and insects. The multitude of life on earth is more complete and complex than we ever imagined.
Activity 1 – Evolution of life

Nature has been evolving for over 3.5 to 4 billion years. Take a look at the NEW SCIENTISTS Timeline of Evolution to learn how single-celled organisms developed into multi-celled organisms. It is an incredible story.
3.4-4.5 Billions of years ago Microbial fossils provide early evidence of life on Earth, with rocks bearing single-cell organisms that rapidly developed. emerging into (prokaryotes).
2 billion years ago More complex cells developed into (Eukaryotes)
*1 billion years ago Multi cellular life appeared.
540 million years ago The Cambrian Period exploding with multitudes of different life forms.
Now watch the Evolution of Life on Earth in 60 seconds and create a timeline of which forms of life came first. Draw the microorganisms, the fish, the land plants, the insects, amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, mammals, birds, flowers.
Activity 2 – Nature's Gifts
For there is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds, in the ebb and flow of the tides; in the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in these repeated refrains of Nature. Rachel Carson, Lost Woods
The rise of the sun each morning is a wake-up call that we are alive. The noon sun shining overhead shines down on us charging all living things with energy. The sun moving across the sky invites us to chase the setting sun, calling colors onto the clouds, painting beautiful sunsets.
The dusk sky turns a dark canvas that slowly but surely entices twinkly stars and shining planets connecting us with the past, the present, and the future. Tis a glorious world we live if we can just take a moment to appreciate its gifts.


















































