Beginning of the year activities Practicing classroom routines and procedures is essential in the first few weeks of school. But this isn’t just an indoor exercise – if you’re planning on learning outside at all this year, you should practice your outdoor routines and expectations during the first week of school as well. In this […]
Picture Books
Podcast
7 Picture Books for Going Back to School [Ep. 83]Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. This is at no extra cost to you. If you’d like to learn more, check out my disclaimers page. Going back to school books August is time for going back to school and I’m spending the month sharing ways that you can […]
Podcast
6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning SpacesClassroom decoration ideas As the school year approaches, let’s talk about some classroom decoration ideas that can help you plan for a successful year. And hopefully, they will also help you stress less as you get back into the space. Back-to-school time can be hard on everyone and I’m hoping to be able to lessen […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
5 Strategies for Bringing the Outside Into Your Classroom and Learning Spaces [Ep. 81]Bringing nature into your classroom In this episode, we’ll talk about 5 strategies for bringing nature into your classroom including: Episode Highlights Related Episodes/Blog Posts: Connect with me:
Podcast
Science
What Butterflies Eat: Interactive Activities for 2nd and 5th Graders [Ep. 80]What butterflies eat It’s summer and butterflies are in the air! Even though you likely don’t have learners with you for a bit, I’ve got some interactive activities to share with you today to investigate what butterflies eat and how that relates to pollination and food chains. In this episode, we’ll talk about activities to explore what butterflies eat that are paired with Next Generation Science Standards for grades 2nd and 5th. I’ll share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to what butterflies eat, and descriptions of how to use the activity with your […]
Podcast
Science
Are Butterflies Insects? Investigation Activities for 1st and 4th Graders [Ep. 79]Activities to investigate “are butterflies insects?” Are butterflies insects? While you likely know the answer (yes, they are), it is a great phenomenon to investigate with your learners. Plus, some of the characteristics that they have that identify them as insects provide very interesting opportunities for your kiddos. And I’m here to help you get […]
Podcast
Science
Butterflies with Orange and Other Adaptations for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade [Ep. 78]Activities about butterflies with orange and other adaptations Summer is the time that butterflies shine! It’s when they can be found as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, and adults. It also happens to be when many of us don’t have learners to enjoy them… but that’s ok! We’re going to talk today about activities to investigate butterflies […]
Picture Books
Podcast
6 Butterfly Books to Introduce Characteristics, Adaptations, and Life Cycles [Ep. 77]Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. This is at no extra cost to you. If you’d like to learn more, check out my disclaimers page. Butterfly books July is a time for butterflies and I’m spending the month sharing ways that you can teach your learners about these […]
Outdoor Education
Science
Teaching with Photographs: 6 Research-Based Benefits to Elementary Learners [Ep. 76]Teaching with photographs This is a topic I’ve been excited to dive into for some time, and summer seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce it. If you’ve never thought about how teaching with actual photographs can help your learners in science, this episode is a must-listen. I’m an avid collector of nature photos because […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
Summer Activities for 2nd and 5th Graders Aligned with NGSS [Ep. 75]Summer activities It’s officially summer! And with it is a wonderful opportunity to explore water and where it can be found. Now is a great time to suggest to your learners’ caregivers to enjoy the local waterways and help prevent that summer slide. In this episode, we’ll talk about summer activities that are paired with […]
![5 Beginning of the Year Activities to Set You and Your Learners Up for Success [Ep. 84]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/beginning-of-the-year-activities-header.jpg)
![5 Strategies for Bringing the Outside Into Your Classroom and Learning Spaces [Ep. 81]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bringing-nature-into-your-classroom-header.jpg)
![What Butterflies Eat: Interactive Activities for 2nd and 5th Graders [Ep. 80]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/what-butterflies-eat-header.jpg)
![Are Butterflies Insects? Investigation Activities for 1st and 4th Graders [Ep. 79]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/are-butterflies-insects-header.jpg)
![How Flowers Attract Pollinators: 1st and 4th Grade NGSS Activities [Ep. 66]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/how-flowers-attract-pollinators-header.jpg)
