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This weekend, plan a scavenger hunt in your own neighborhood. The night before, make a list of all the things your children need to look for. They can include: A dogA catA bicycleA street sign A house with an attached garageA squirrel Swing set A blue car A fire hydrantSomething that begins with the letter …

Supplies needed: one magnet per studentnotebookspencils This week, head outside to the playground with magnets, paper, and pencils. Together, name all of the objects on the playground and have the students write them down. Next, have the students decide if they think the objects are magnetic or not. If they think an object is magnetic, …

Nothing warms the heart on cold days like sitting around a campfire with friend and family. And if you’re going to be making a campfire, it’s time to make s’mores! If you can’t make a campfire in your backyard, don’t worry. You can use the sun to make your s’mores! Photo by shebaduhkitty

Valentine’s Day is almost here, so this week, send your students out to find some hearts in nature. Take along a camera; when a student discovers a heart-shaped object, have him or her take a photograph of it. Also write down where the heart was found. Then print the pictures to display in your classroom. …

Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to encourage outdoor learning. On that day, thousands of teachers will move their lessons outside for the day. The next Outdoor Classroom Day is scheduled for May 23, 2019. This week, head outside for a planning meeting! Tell the students about Outdoor Classroom Day. Brainstorm together activities you …

If short winter days have you longing for more time outdoors, how about bringing a bit of the outdoors to your desk? Research shows that indoor plants can improve your outlook and even reduce stress (see, for example, this article on the benefits of plants). Our family has a long-standing practice of keeping fresh flowers …

Are the grey skies of winter getting you down? Don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season. Here are some ideas to get you started:   Try a new winter sport, like skiing, snowshoeing, or snow tubing. Catch a snowflake with your tongue. Have a competition among your family and see who …

The whole class can be involved in preparing for this activity. First, have the students brainstorm together and think of objects they have found outside. It may be an object they have only seen one time, or it could be something they see every time they go outdoors. Ideas can include animals, tree varieties, or …

When artists draw, they think about the shapes of the objects they’re drawing. You’re students can think about shapes as they head outside this week. Before You Go Discuss lines and angles.  Discuss various geometric shapes the students might find outside. These can include circles, ovals, triangles, rectangles, squares, and other parallelograms.  Discuss symmetry.  Gather …

This week is a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Take advantage of the season and head outside for a gratitude walk. As you go, have the students take turns naming things in nature that they are thankful for. Write down the ideas as the students name them. Next, have the students create …

Many cities offer turkey trots on Thanksgiving Day — fun foot races to help you burn off some of those calories you will be eating later. So this weekend, find one near you that the whole family can participate in. Then head outside for some practice! You may even be starting a new Thanksgiving tradition!  …

Is your class learning about circles, diameter, radius, and circumference? Then measuring trees can give your students some hands-on experience!   Provide each student with a flexible sewing measuring tape. Students should also carry with them a pencil and notebook.  Have the students choose a tree in the schoolyard to measure. Show them how to wrap …

This weekend, call your local nature center or park to find out how you and your family can volunteer. These positions may include jobs such as working at the front desk, helping to prepare meals for the animals, cleaning the habitats, or watching over a petting area.    Photo by cheriedurbin

You don’t need a lot of supplies to make some good rubbings. Just provide the students with plain paper and some crayons. Instruct them to remove the paper from the crayons before they begin.  Next, head outside and search for leaves or bark to rub. Place a piece of paper on top of it, then …

Fall is in the air! This weekend, head to a local farm and go pumpkin picking! Many farms offer small pumpkins for just a few dollars, making it easy for everyone to choose a favorite to take home.  Want to learn more about how pumpkins grow? Check our this page on the Old Farmer’s Almanac.  …

Many poets have found their inspiration in nature. Inform your students that each one is going to write an original poem. Then take them outside. Together, brainstorm topics they may write about based on what they see around them. Ideas could include clouds, a storm, trees, branches, birds, butterflies, roots — whatever catches their eye. …

Fall is the perfect time to start hunting for squirrel nests. They build their nests of leaves and twigs high in the trees, so they are often hidden by summer foliage. As the leaves start to fall, the nests start to appear. This weekend, head outside and see how many you can find. You can …

Make this weekend challenging! Set up an outdoor obstacle course for you kids. Here are a couple of  ideas to get you started:  If the weather is still warm where you are, you can create a water course similar to the one found HERE.  Use items you have around your yard to create an obstacle …

This week, take the students outside and look at the clouds. But don’t just watch them — identify them!  Begin by teaching the students about the different types of clouds. You can find examples HERE.  Go outside at the same time every day to see what types of clouds are in the sky. Have each …

This weekend, make paper boats to float down a stream. You can find directions on how to make a boat HERE.  Have each person make more than one boat, just in case one doesn’t hold up for long. Your family will be excited to test them out. You may even have to hike to get …