We work with teams of teachers to transform their existing lessons and units into lively year-round standards-based outdoor learning experiences. Topics such as habitat, senses, living organisms, biodiversity, ecology, seasons, cycles, local conservation issues, food and nutrition, and Native American studies are easily demonstrated by using outdoor schoolyard/ community spaces. You will take home a teaching strategy, timeline and lessons to help you implement your new ideas into everyday teaching both in and out of the classroom. (4hr)
If current research supports the many psychological, cognitive, and physical benefits of the outdoors in childhood development, then why don’t more of us do this with our students? Children’s full physical involvement in learning- touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing – is vitally important and downright fun! Enliven your teaching and maximize learning with lessons that involve all the senses and seasons. Join Learning By Nature to learn how you can set yourself and your students up for success while using the great outdoors as your classroom. (2hr)
By inviting the users and administrators of a site to design an ideal play or learning space, you create effective and sustainable ownership, pride and understanding. The process: working in small groups, you will develop an understanding of basic design principles, discuss features and structures appropriate for your intended audience, site, and purpose, and use materials to create a model which demonstrates your ideal outdoor space.
Edible school yards can offer a plethora of learning across the curriculum. Learn how to choose, design a space for, and use edibles to enhance science, social studies, language arts, math, nutrition, and Indian Ed for All for grades k-5 and 6-12.
Similar outcomes as above though the focus is on researching and developing “edible” wildlife habitat.