Using Nature as a Classroom

Misi Stine

School Forest Coordinator

About the Presenter

• School forest coordinator, St. David’s Center

• Volunteer interpretive naturalist, Wildlife Science Center

• Facilitator, Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree

• Volunteer program instructor, Minnesota Master Naturalist

2

Background

• St David’s Center

• Minnesota DNR School Forest Program– What is a school forest?– 120 certified school forests statewide

• Range in < 1 acre to > 300 acres

– Supports 2,000 educators & 30,000 students

3

Creating Outdoors Spaces

• Assess what you already have• How could you use existing spaces?• What you would like to add?

– Branches, rocks– Rain gardens & other

natural plantings– Storage cabinets– Stick area for building– Pond or other water features

4

Benefits of Teaching Outdoors

• Extension of available education space

• Improved attendance, attitudes & test scores

• Positive effect on social, physical & interpersonal development

• Improved overall health• Allows children who learn differently to succeed

Source: http://www.plt.org/top-ten-tips-for-teaching-outside

5

Possible Challenges

• Structure– Obtaining support from your school or

organization– Educational trends that marginalize direct

experience with nature – Educators who don’t know what to do “out

there”– Time constraints

Source: http://www.plt.org/top-ten-tips-for-teaching-outside

6

Possible Challenges, con’t

• Elements– There is “no nature” where we are– Fear of nature– Teachers don’t like to deal with the elements

(precipitation, temperature, insects, risk of injury, etc.)

– Hazards

• Students– Supervising children– Students not coming prepared for outside

Source: http://www.plt.org/top-ten-tips-for-teaching-outside

7

Addressing the Challenges

• Get to know your outdoor areas

• Educate yourself about the plants and animals on your site– If there are dangerous ones, find out how to

address them; if there are hazardous ones, remove them

• Connect with experts in natural resources, outdoor education & your peers

Source: http://www.plt.org/top-ten-tips-for-teaching-outside

8

Addressing the Challenges, con’t

• Keep a schedule for your outdoor time• Communicate with parents about what you are

doing, what to expect & how to prepare• Start small; teach kids the boundaries

& expectations about being outside• Give kids time to explore & enjoy

– Let their questions & creativity add to the experience

• Keep extra clothing

Source: http://www.plt.org/top-ten-tips-for-teaching-outside

9

Curriculums Available

• MinnAqua

• Project Learning Tree*

• Project WILD / Project WILD Aquatic*

• Project WET

*PLT and WILD are correlated to the national standards for the NAEYC & Head Start Child Outcomes Framework

10

Sample Activities

• Nature journals

• Adopt-a-Tree

• Using animals to teach

• “Look, listen & feel” activities

11

Wrap Up

Questions?

12