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This week, head outside during reading time! Whether students are reading alone or in groups, have them take their books outdoors to read in the fresh air. It’s a whole different kind of reading experience! When you go back inside, discuss the differences the students noticed between reading outside and reading in the classroom. Which …

This week, have your students find real-life examples in nature of the terms they learn in geometry. On a sheet of paper, have them draw and label the ones they find. These could include: point lineline segmentraypolygonvertextrianglequadilateralpentagonhexagonangleintersecting linesparallel linesperpendicular linessquare rectanglecircleovalobtuse angleacute angle

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 …

Before all the spring vegetation grows back, why not go on a hunt for animal burrows? You don’t even have to go into the woods – burrows can often be found in backyards and around buildings, too! A burrow is a hole or tunnel that an animal digs for security. It might consist of simple, …

Before going outside this week, discuss weathering and erosion and it’s effects. (NE Geology Kids presents a nice summary.) Then, take the class outside to search for signs of weathering around the school. Photo by taliesin https://www.onegeology.org/extra/kids/earthprocesses/weathering.html

Is there a park in your town you’ve never been to? If you’ve been to them all, chances are there’s one in the next town you haven’t seen. This weekend, explore a new park or playground with your family. You may discover a new favorite place! Photo by keencarlene

If you have a cat that goes outdoors, chances are it’s probably caught a few smaller animals. Our cat once came to the door with a baby rabbit in its mouth. As I reached for it, I realized the little rabbit was still alive. Before I could get it, though, the cat let go, and …

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. …

This week, send your students outside to look for parts of speech. Instruct the students to first find a noun and write it down. Then have them think of three to five adjectives that describe that noun and write them down as well. You can have them search for verbs and adverbs, too. Photo by …

You don’t need many supplies for this craft! Just a pair of scissors and some white paper (although you could add a little glitter!). For directions on how to make a paper snowflake, click HERE. Photo by reccaphoenix

Wintry weather can get students down with the bare trees and grey skies. This week, teach your students about a fascinating feature of the season: snowflakes! For information and instructions on how to make paper snowflakes, click HERE. Photo by FidlerJan

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 …

  Your students may have an idea about how much they weigh, but have they ever weighed objects they find outside? For the activity this week, you will need:  Bags for collecting the objects A bathroom scale  A kitchen scale  First, head outside with your students to collect 3 different natural objects. Instruct them to …

This weekend, head outside and search for animal tracks! Don’t just look for tracks made by your pet — see what other types of tracks you can find. Even if it has not snowed in your area recently, you can also find tracks in the dirt or mud. When you find some animal tracks, snap …

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 …

Whether mild or cold, winter is here! Take your students on a nature walk in search of signs of winter. Instruct the students to make a list of what they see (or don’t see!). When you reach the end of the walk, have the students compare their lists. Photo by Erean

The stars you see in the night sky change from season to season, so even if it’s a little chilly outside, take advantage of a clear evening. Not sure what to look for? Check out this page for everything to watch for in the sky during January 2019.