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Sometimes the new year is so full of new resolutions and goals that it can be a bit overwhelming — and stressful! If you’re already feeling over-committed, try these simple ways to help you relax, refresh, and reconnect. Take a walk every day. This can be a nature walk, a walk to work and back, or …

This weekend, get together with your family and brainstorm ways you can spend time outside together on a regular basis. Some ideas may be: Walking or Hiking Playing an outdoor gameBirdwatching Gardening Going on a picnic Stargazing Next, choose one that everyone would like to do this year. It could be once a week or …

Play a guessing game! Have your students choose something they’ve seen outside (they can refer to their lists of objects if necessary). Instruct the students to write down adjectives and phrases describing the object, making their descriptions as detailed as they can. Teach them how to choose words that are vivid and exact rather than general …

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 …

‘Tis the season when many children think about sleighs and reindeer. Or should we say, sleighs and caribou?   How They Are Similar Reindeer and caribou are all found in the northern regions of the earth. Besides Alaska and Canada in North America, they also live in the icy regions of Norway, Russia, and Greenland. Both …

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!  …

This week, talk about condensation! Some good online resources include: “Dew”. National Geographic  “Condensation”. Geography for Kids Students are probably familiar with finding condensation on a window or drinking glass. But they may not have thought about finding it in nature. Go out early in the morning to find examples of condensation on grass, leaves, …

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 …

This week, introduce your students to leaf bingo! There are lots of ways to play leaf bingo depending on the grade you teach.  For younger students:  Fall Leaf Bingo by Melissa and Doug sends students outdoors with free printable bingo cards. Students then hunt for colorful leaves that match the ones on their cards.  .  …

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 …

This weekend, do everything you’d normally do — but outside! This includes working on homework, crafting, exercising, folding laundry, reading, napping, playing games —  whatever you have planned, take it all outdoors. Don’t forget — you can cook and eat outdoors, too! It’s as easy as grilling out or just making sandwiches and having a …