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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, …

This weekend, head outside and gather some beautiful fall leaves! Then try out some of the following craft ideas:  Autumn Leaf Art from EliseButton.com Autumn Leaf Luminaries from MarthaStewart.com Embroidered Leaf Place Cards  from MarthaStewart.com Fall Foliage Candle Holders from MarthaStewart.com Fall Leaf Book Page Banner from SimpleAsThat.com Fall Leaf Crown from HandmadeCharlotte.com Leaf Coasters …

I sometimes teach creative writing classes, and one of my students included chipmunks in his descriptive paragraph about the woods. I was a little surprised, though, as his chipmunks were climbing trees. I made a note on his paper that they didn’t really do that, but he assured me that they did. It was time …

Your students can celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday all month long by creating a Thankful Tree. Here’s what you’ll need:   Supplies: Roll of brown bulletin board paper, butcher paper, or packaging paper Red, yellow, and orange construction paper or cardstock Markers Sticky tack or masking tape Fall Leaves Pencil Scissors Bags for collecting leaves To Make …

Do your kids have a hard time thinking of things to do? Make an outdoor activity jar! Purchase some blank Popsicle sticks from your local craft store. Then write a different outdoor activity on each stick. When your children can’t decide what to do next, have them draw out a stick and head outside!  Remember: …

If someone were to ask you to name an animal that hibernates, you’d probably say “a bear.” But for many years, some people did not consider them true hibernators. When animals such as chipmunks and ground squirrels hibernate, their body temperatures drop drastically. A bear’s body temperatures does not decrease nearly as much. And, unlike …

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 …

When my oldest son was about six years old, he discovered a snake close to where he was playing. He called to his sister who then called to me, saying there was a baby copperhead in the grass. I rushed outside and, on first glance, the little snake did look like a copperhead. Worried about …

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 …

It’s the first day of fall! Here are 20 ideas to help you enjoy the season!  Go apple picking and try different varieties of apples.  Go leaf peeping.  Find your way out of a corn maze.  Go on a hayride.  Go hiking.  Visit a state or national park.  Collect fall leaves.  Carve a pumpkin.  Plant …