Outdoor Classroom

  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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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.  .  …

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 …

With all of the news about Hurricane Florence, your students may have a lot of questions about severe storms and weather. Talk about which kinds of storms may affect your area. Then have your students start a weather journal. You can find a free printable journal from the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska …

How is rainfall measured? Students can find out with a rain gauge they make in class! What’s more, they get to upcycle a plastic bottle that might otherwise sit in a landfill. The only supplies you’ll need include:  Empty two-liter plastic bottles Scissors to cut the bottle  Clean pebbles, gravel, marbles, or glass craft stones …

Have your students get crafty this week and make a nature collage! Choose one day to head outside to gather natural materials. Remind students to pick items from off the ground, not off the plants. Items can include:  nuts leaves bark pebbles or small stones twigs flowers feathers  seeds There are several ways to put …

School is back in session! We want to help make it a great year for you with nature activities you can use in the classroom. We’ll post an Activity for the Week every Saturday morning. You can also see previous activity ideas HERE.  This week: Go hunting with a camera!  Choose a “camera day” in …

As the school year comes to a close, encourage your students to make the most of their free time this summer. As a class, come up with a list of things they can do either on their own or with friends and family members. Wondering where to begin? Check out our list of 12 Ways …

Take the class outside for a nature scavenger hunt. You may make it as simple or as complex as you want. Below are some ideas.  For younger students: Base your scavenger hunt on colors like the one here.  For older elementary students:  Click here for a free scavenger hunt printable featuring 4 types of birds, …

A piece of paper on the ground… a candy bar wrapper… a soda bottle. It’s no big deal, is it? That’s what many students think. Let your students know the effects of litter on wildlife. This article by the World Animal Foundation is a good place to start.  Then, head outside to pick up litter. …

This week, take the class outside to identify all of the different trees around your school or playground. You can have the students draw the leaves in nature journals, or you can ask for permission to pick some of the leaves to take inside. Have the students search through field guides to identify the leaves. …