Planning a field trip I am so excited to be able to offer you a guest interview all about field trips, their importance for students, and tips for planning a field trip in a less stressful way! James Dake is the Education Director at Grass River Natural Area and has over a decade of experience […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
Different Kinds of Children’s Outdoor Activities and Games for Teaching Science [Ep. 22]Children’s outdoor activities and games Lesson planning for outdoor activities is challenging if you haven’t seen it in action before. Trying to imagine how to implement children’s outdoor activities and games without some sort of modeling or prior support seems incredibly daunting. However, I’m here to help you with descriptions and examples for different kinds […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
Nature Based Preschools and Elementary Classrooms: Talking Teacher Roles with Dr. Rachel Larimore [Ep. 18]Teacher roles in nature based preschools and elementary classrooms I am so excited to be able to offer you a guest interview all about teacher roles in nature based preschools and elementary classrooms! Dr. Rachel Larimore is a consultant, educator, and former nature preschool director and has recently co-written a book about the human element […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching Outside [Ep. 6]Outdoor education safety tips If you’ve considered teaching outside, but safety concerns have held you back, I’m here to help! Outdoor education safety can be managed just like any other aspect of teaching and can come as second nature when practiced regularly. In this episode, I share 5 tips to help you feel more at […]
Outdoor Education
Winter Gear Wisdom: A Practical Guide for Elementary Outdoor EducationDelving into the realm of winter gear for outdoor learning, elementary teachers often find themselves facing the challenge of ensuring their students are adequately dressed for the season. This guide aims to unravel the complexities surrounding winter gear, ensuring students are well-prepared and enthusiastic about outdoor learning during the winter season. What is the weather […]
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education: How to Use Nature to Improve Your Science StudiesWhat is outdoor education? Outdoor education is a challenging thing to define, but most sources agree that it’s intentional or organized learning that takes place in nature or outside the classroom. Sometimes outdoor education is also referred to as outdoor learning, outdoor schools, forest schools, or wilderness education. But don’t let those names hold you […]
Science
Outdoor Education
Teaching the Weather of Summer: A Helpful Guide for Elementary TeachersTeaching the weather of summer is a great way to end your school year and weather studies in kindergarten and 3rd grade. Your students are already feeling the warmer temperatures, hearing the birds call, and getting antsy, so why not harness the excitement and get outside?! Summer is unique in each region and will have […]
Science
Outdoor Education
How Vernal Pools Can Be Used to Reach Your Curricular GoalsTrudging through the woods with a trail of kindergarteners behind me, we spot our destination right away. Vernal pools sitting there, waiting for us to explore. We all stand around the edge and stare at these innocent puddles wondering what we may find. I give directions about how to use scientific tools to sample the […]
Science
Outdoor Education
A Helpful Guide to Answering the Question, “What is the Spring Season?”What is the spring season and what can it do for you in your classroom? Teaching the spring season is a great way to extend the weather studies your kindergarteners or 3rd graders started at the beginning of the school year. Spring is unique in each region and will have its own set of weather […]
Science
Outdoor Education
How Do You Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Elementary Students?How do you celebrate the winter solstice with elementary students? And why do we celebrate the winter solstice? Celebrating the winter solstice instead of Christmas can help to encompass all of your students, regardless of their traditions and beliefs. The winter solstice is something that everyone on Earth experiences and can create unity in your […]