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Now that summer’s officially arrived, celebrate with a splash party! Invited friends and neighbors over to cool off with some of these ideas:  10 Fun Ways to Turn Your Backyard into a Water Park DIY Water Wall  DIY Water Blob Kiddie Car Wash Sponge Bulls Eye Water Gun Cup Races    Photo by lisaleo

It’s officially the first day of summer! Here are some ideas you can try to celebrate the season: Go on a picnic Go swimming Make a bird feeder Make a fairy house Go on a scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or through the woods Release ladybugs – You can buy them online and send them …

Let your creativity flow and build some fairy houses!  There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Here are some ideas to get you started:  Create a fairy house using just mud, twigs, and grass; Or you can use a few extra supplies such as glue, hot glue, a sharpie, and string; or you could start off with a basic structure and add natural embellishments.   Then find the …

Dust off your fishing pole and tackle box. Then head to a local lake or pond and go fishing. Be sure to check fishing license requirements for your state before you go.    Photo by joelpyle

This weekend, get together some friends or family members and learn a new game! Here are some you may not have played before: Bocci Ball Disc Golf Kanjam Horseshoes Cornhole   Photo by garrygraham  

This week, create a class memory book about the activities they did together outdoors. You can have each student create their own page. They might write about their favorite activity, a new experience, a special memory, or something funny that happened. They can include drawings and other designs. Older students can create their pages on …

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on all the books you’ve been wanting to read. It’s also the time libraries sponsor summer reading programs. So this weekend, create a special reading space in your backyard or on your patio. It could be as simple as finding the perfect tree or hanging up a …

This week, have the students write letters to themselves reflecting on their outdoor experiences.  Or, have the students each write a letter to a new student who will be in your class next year. What can they expect when they head outside together? What kind of helpful advice can the current students give the new …

This week, teach your students how to set goals. Then have your students write down a list of goals they’d like to accomplish this summer. Be sure to include things that get them outdoors in the fresh air. Start by brainstorming as a class, then have the students write down their own list. Invite them …

This mother’s day, help mom enjoy some time outdoors. Here are some ideas:  Set up a hammock so she can read or nap outside  Take a hike together Have a picnic  Visit a new park  Go for a family bike ride Play Frisbee golf  Go kayaking or canoeing Pick a wildflower bouquet together Attend an …

Have you ever heard a rat-a-tat-tat sound outside your window? Chances are there’s a woodpecker nearby! There are twenty-two species of woodpeckers in North America living in forests, woodlands, farms, and even backyards. They range from southern Texas to the eastern tip of New York.  Although woodpecker species share some similarities, such as favorite foods …

Join other classes around the world for Outdoor Classroom Day on May 23! To find out more and to sign up, click here.    Photo by GaborFromHungary

Spring is blooming! Visit your local library and check out some flower identification books. Then find some wildflowers in your area and identify what kind they are. You may want to take along a nature journal to make a record of what you see.    Photo by Fracticality

Haiku is a form of poetry that originated in Japan. It is made up of 17 syllables in 3 lines that usually don’t rhyme. Traditionally, haiku focuses on the natural world. This week, have your students write their own haiku about nature. Just follow the form below:  LINE 1: 5 syllables LINE 2: 7 syllables …

This weekend, find a local farm to visit. Since it’s springtime, chances are you’ll get to see some calves, lambs, or kids while you’re there.    Photo by carolwerner   

All you need for this creative activity are some smooth pebbles, canvas boards, and twigs. Click here to find out how to get started. 

This weekend, head outdoors with your favorite color of chalk and get creative! If you don’t have a paved driveway or sidewalk, ask around to see if there’s somewhere else you could draw. The local churches, the  library, or a  community center might be willing to share their space, especially if you have a group …

Grab your cameras and cell phones! Using forced perspective, you can create photos with fun optical illusions. For ideas and more information on how to get started, check out these sites:  Easy Trick Photography Even a Kid Can Do  Secret Tip: Forced Perspective Photography 7 Tips for Creating Excellent Forced Perspective Photographs 

This activity will challenge students to see things from a different perspective as they practice writing creatively. Here’s what to do:  Instruct the students to take notebooks and pencils and head outside. Next, have each student locate a crawling insect (no flying insects as they are too difficult to follow).  Students are to follow that …

This weekend, find a creek in a park and follow it. Take a phone or camera along to photograph what you find.    Photo by Anugama