Outdoor Environmental Education
Local Field Program Lessons
Schools are closed, and so our field programs aren't happening, but here are some lessons from these programs you can use for distance learning or for parents to do at home with their childrenLocal Field Program Lessons
Garden lessons for K-1 - can be done at home in students' own gardens.
Outdoor lessons for 3rd grade - now includes distance lessons for each month (except field birding in May)
Many lessons could be adapted, especially the classroom pre-and post-lessons from the handbooks for each grade-level. 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades.
New Program still under development with monthly outdoor lessons for 5th grade - many elements of the lessons could be used for distance learning.
For the Birds!
Just because we are staying home doesn't mean we can't enjoy wildlife! Birds are everywhere, including out your window! Listen to their songs, set up a feeder to observe, learn to sketch birds, learn about bird songs, how to ID birds, record your bird sightings, start a nature journal!For the Birds!
How To Make These Next Few Weeks A Little Easier, Courtesy Of Birds
Cornell's All About Birds website has great resources for studying birds at home, in your backyard, and online.
Learn how to identify birds, bird songs, participate in citizen science, use online resources and apps, observe birds online with nest cams, and much more, including resources for teachers!
Weekly lessons
with Videos, Science, Art and DIY projects, reading, writing, fun games and interactives - all for the birds!This page brings together activities from across Audubon’s national network of environmental educators, including the classroom curriculum Audubon Adventures, plus related DIY activities and content from Audubon’s editors. These activities can be done at home or in a yard or park, sometimes with the help of a computer. All you need is to be a companion to your child’s curiosity.
Engaging Student in Outdoor Education During Remote Learning
Resources from ICOE online Workshop on 5/8/20Includes guiding principles, resources for teaching observation skills, nature journaling and sketching, projects, phenology studies, citizen science, and support for families.Engaging Student in Outdoor Education During Remote Learning
Engaging students with outdoor education during distance learning
Ways to incorporate outdoor education into your remote teaching, pandemic or not! Outdoor Education is student-centered, meaningful, and engages students in NGSS practices and concepts - and it's not impossible!Get Your Student Outdoors to Learn Science
Copy these outdoor education "homework" assignments to use with studentsGet Your Student Outdoors to Learn Science
You don't need binoculars!
Nature Journaling and Sketching
Nature Journaling and Sketching
The definitive Guide! Free PDF download of individual lessons, videos, teaching tips, and more!
Nature Stewardship through Science, Education, and Art - many art and nature journaling lessons and demonsrations.
From STEM Humboldt, with downloadable journal templates and examples
Natural Science Artist and Educator, Christine Elder, presents M-F nature sketching sessions, also available through her website: https://christineelder.com/
Additional Resources on Wakelet
More added all the time!Additional Resources on Wakelet
From Local to Outer Space!
A collection of great opportunities for students to collect data to share with larger studies.
Botany is Beautiful! Ideas for learning about plants for all ages
Fun stuff for bird beginners, bird nerds, and educators!
Keeping Science Notebooks or Nature Journals is a great way to incorporate many science and other standards.
LOOK! MORE Outdoor Environmental Education Resources (LOTS more!)
Outdoor Education At Home
Outdoor Education At Home
These distance learning lessons and activities from outdoor education programs can be done in nature anywhere: school, your backyard, your neighborhood, a park, or even in your house.
30 Quests for students around the world to celebrate, explore and connect with nature. From TED Ed.
30 Days of Reconnection with Nature
30 Days of reconnection with nature, through observation, journaling, and Learning - so many great resources, plus project-based learning and many other resources for all grade levels available on their site.
Everyone Counts! is a class, community-building activity, and community science project. Participants engage in nature-observation skills, mindfulness, and concepts of biodiversity science through multiple ways of learning.
Weekly Wonder is a virtual program designed to be accessible for learners of all ages. No expensive gear, no need to travel to distant wild places, and no specialized skills or experience necessary! Your classroom just needs you and your willingness to be curious, to pay attention to the world around you, and to share wonder and joy with other students.
Westminster Woods - At Home Nature Activities
Here are some activities created by Westminster Woods' Teacher Naturalists that you can do in nature anywhere: school, your backyard, your neighborhood, a park, or even in your house.
The outdoors are still open and offer plenty of opportunities for learning activities. These hands-on, interactive lessons will ensure that kids can continue to do what they do best: remain curious and explore the natural world.
40+ lessons and activities designed to give teachers and students an outdoor education experience - right in their own backyards! Great background information on concepts included.
Wolf Ridge Adventures in Learning
Interactive, blended learning with online or print and outdoor components you can do in your own backyard, on a walk through your neighborhood or at a safe distance from others in your local park. Try their BIRDS lesson!
We are in awe of the resiliency and creativity of the children and nature movement in responding to this crisis. We've compiled these tools and resources from key partners and leaders around the world.