Amphibians vs reptiles may be one of the hottest topics you cover this school year. Not only are these animals inherently interesting to children (and many adults!), they are also confusing to keep separate. Are reptiles and amphibians the same? What are the characteristics of amphibians? What is the difference between amphibians and reptiles? These […]
Science
Seed Dispersal Types: 6 Innovative Ways Seeds Travel to New PlacesFor Teachers What are seed dispersal types? What is seed dispersal by explosion? What is animal seed dispersal and how does it benefit plants? These questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the interesting techniques that plants use for seed dispersal. Teaching seed dispersal in your elementary classroom can be […]
Picture Books
11 Fantastic Animal Life Cycles Books by John HimmelmanOne of my favorite things to do with third graders is to go to vernal pools in the spring and try to find animal life cycles in the water. These rich outdoor labs provided my students the opportunity to see frogs and toads in at least three different stages as well as many invertebrates. They […]
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 […]
ELA
Picture Books
A Fantastic Spring Picture Book List for Elementary Teachers with 20 TitlesPicture books are an amazing way to learn about the world and can be an invaluable tool for introducing children to the changing seasons. This fantastic spring picture book list is compiled of 20 titles that introduce seasonal signs, what plants in the spring are doing, and what animals in the spring are up to. […]
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
How Maple Syrup Season Can Help You Teach Elementary StudentsIt’s almost maple syrup season again, and I can’t help but think about how magical this time of the year is for kids and adults alike. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a region that can produce maple syrup and my grandmother would take me and my three brothers to the sugarhouse at […]
ELA
Picture Books
16 Wonderful Children’s Books About Winter for Elementary TeachersPicture books are an amazing way to learn about the world and can be an invaluable tool for introducing children to the changing seasons. This list of wonderful children’s books about winter is compiled of 16 titles that introduce seasonal signs, animals in winter, and the water cycle to your students. By reading some of […]
Science
Outdoor Education
A Helpful Guide to Teaching the Season Transition to WinterTeaching the season transition from fall to winter is a great way to continue the weather studies your kindergarteners or 3rd graders started at the beginning of the school year. Winter is unique in each region and will have its own set of weather patterns to be studied. By studying your local winter weather, your […]
Science
Answers to 7 FAQs to Help with Your Weather Teaching in Elementary SchoolAre you weather teaching in your kindergarten or 3rd grade classroom? Learning about weather can be one of your students’ favorite times of the year because it comes with interesting science tools, learning outdoors, and fun crafts. But what is weather? What are the factors that make weather? How do you explain climate and weather […]
