Outdoor Classroom

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. …

Field guides are books used to identify animals, plants, minerals, or other things in the natural environment. They are available for purchase, although many can be found in your local library. This week, check out a variety of field guides for students to look at. Show them how to use the books for research by looking …

Before beginning, find out the weather forecast for the week. Have each student record this information or post it where the whole class can view it. Have the students keep a weather log for the next five days. Be sure to include the high temperature, the low temperature, and the amount of precipitation for each …

This week, take students outside to hear what nature sounds like. Depending on your students, it may be a little hard at first to settle down long enough to listen well. But once they do, they’ll be surprised by just how much they hear.  Supplies Plain white paper Pencils A notebook or book to bear …

 If you’ve ever tended a garden, you know the satisfaction that comes from harvesting your own food. Imagine your students experiencing that same satisfaction as well. And in the process, they not only receive a hands-on science lesson, but you can expand it to include other subjects as well.    Getting Started Find a place …

Nature journaling is a great way to start your students connecting with the outdoors. Not only do they draw pictures of what they see, they can also record any observations or thoughts they have. This helps them appreciate their natural surroundings and hopefully be more motivated to take care of them.  There are no rules for …

Spring comes each year with a predictable rhythm. Are your children or students feeling the drumbeat of its approach? Rather than letting spring fever take over, channel their excitement into observation of the outdoors. If you have a consistent commute with kids in the car, begin by pointing out the blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees …