Teach Outdoors

Our guest today is Rachel Tidd, the author of Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the Wild Math® and Reading Curriculums®. Today’s episode dives into the connections between nature and curriculum. Not only does Rachel provide some great examples on how to incorporate literacy and numeracy into our outdoor learning adventures, but she also talks about the value of different outdoor learning spaces such as the school yard, neighbourhood, and fields. They are all inclusive learning spaces which allow for a range of playful opportunities. In fact, one of the chapters of her book is all about how to use chalk! Around minute 13 of the episode, Rachel talks about how to incorporate arrays and multiplication connections while on a nature walk. Then she digs into some potential barriers of outdoor classrooms, like gear or having a student that is at risk of running out of the boundaries. To end the episode, we talk about how to document student learning outdoors – something that all teachers are eager to learn more about! Novelty nature note:I shared about water striders and how their legs are covered in hairs which trap air, making them buoyant. We also learned that they could live up to a year, as long as the temperatures aren’t freezing. Rachel shared about leaves, both simple and compound, and how leaflets are the structures that make up a compound leaf.  Don’t forget to bookmark:  https://teachoutdoors.ca and subscribe to @TeachOutdoors on YouTube (you can find the episode of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/11f9i2ZoTh8 ) Make sure to bookmark Rachel’s website: www.discoverwildlearning.com and follow her on Instagram and Facebook @discoverwildlearning. 

Welcome to the latest episode of our podcast where we feature inspiring stories of educators who are passionate about taking learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. In today’s episode we have a special guest with us, James Matthews, is the Head of Environmental Studies at BHCS in Melbourne Australia and teaches both in Primary and Middle School. He is passionate about bush regeneration and students expressing creativity in his lessons using natural resources.  Today he will share his experience in facilitating a memorable experience for his students through a planting day. Key Points: 1. The importance of outdoor learning: James shares about his belief in the benefits of taking learning outside the classroom. He shares that it is a great way for learners to connect with nature and understand the interconnectedness of the environment. Engagement is his biggest takeaway!2. Planning and preparation: James explains the importance of planning and preparation for a successful planting day. He talks about how he communicated with the learners about the activity beforehand, and how he made sure he had all the necessary supplies and tools ready. 3. The activity: James walks us through the actual day of planting. He shares how he assigned responsibilities and spaces to his learners, how he encouraged them to work collaboratively, and how he made sure everyone was engaged int he activity. He also talks about the practical skills his learners acquired during the activity, such as digging, planting, and measuring. 4. Reflection and evaluation. James shares how he encouraged his learners to reflect on the activity and evaluate their work. He explains how he made sure that the learns celebrates their successes and accomplishments. Thank you James for sharing your valuable insights and experiences with us. If you would like to contact him for further information, you can reach out to him at jmathews@bhcs.vic.edu.au I hope that this episode will inspire educators to consider taking learning outside the classroom and to become stewards of the environment. Until next time, stay curious, keep learning, and keep cultivating those green thumbs.Don't forget to check out www.teachoutdoors.ca and follow on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca 

Today’s episode is all about overcoming springtime challenges, especially when it comes to allergen season. I don’t know about you, but my eyes are watery and itchy, even my ears are itchy! That doesn’t stop us from getting outside to explore, we just need a few extra tips up our sleeves. If you have any additional tips you'd like to share with us, please feel free to leave a voice message on Speakpipe. You don't need to set up an account and it's completely anonymous! I'll share out some of the tips you leave me on the next episode!  We will also talk about how our new garden beds are progressing. What are we harvesting right now? How are the learners enjoying their new garden classroom? One of the best things we've done so far is using a 4-square worksheet to help guide and facilitate our observations. You can download the worksheets here!Thank you for listening, subscribing, and visiting our website. 

Our school recently installed 6 garden beds! How amazing and terrifying all at the same time :) I have never been shy to speak about what I struggle with and I hope this helps other educators and families see that it's ok to be nervous about gardening. The challenges are going to be worth the experience that both educators and students will get! From limited resources, to lack expertise, I am going to chat about what fears are bubbling up for me this week.  Please share your best tips and strategies with us by sharing on social media and tagging @teachoutdoors.ca Teach Outdoors Website InstagramTwitter

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2! What used to be called Mentoring Nature Connections is now called Teach Outdoors. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey on how I can best tailor this podcast to your needs. I'm excited to continue along this journey with you!Today I give a quick little introduction on who I am, as there are many new followers here with us! I grew up in British Columbia, Canada, and still live here with my husband, two young toddlers and energetic dog. I am the author of the bestselling children's picture book, Me and My Sit Spot, and a full time elementary school teacher.Teaching outdoors can often be a challenging experience, and it's important to remember that not everything will go according to plan. The most common question I get from teachers is "How can I get my students to listen better outside?" They feel frustrated with the unruly behaviours that their students are displaying. My simple answer: be consistent with routines and expectations.  Here are my top 4 tips:Tip #1: Establish Clear Expectations. What can they do? What should they avoid doing? What does it look like and sound like? What happens when these expectations are not met? I highly recommend reviewing these expectations indoors, before going outside.Tip #2: Use Visuals.  This helps all learners remember what is expected of them (I even have mine printed out small and hang them on a lanyard around my neck for easy access!).Tip #3: Create a Routine. Our days look like: Nature walk, instructional activity, closure activity. The predictability helps the students feel more comfortable. Tip #4: Be Consistent. There is nothing more confusing to a student when one day they can play with a stick and the next day they can't. Don't forget to follow and subscribe to the podcast and follow @teachoutdoors.ca on Instagram. Check out the new website www.teachoutdoors.ca to subscribe to the newsletter for upcoming free resources. Share your best tips for creating consistent routines and expectations on Instagram and remember to tag @teachoutdoors.ca

When it comes to teaching students outdoors, there are few activities more meaningful than noticing and observing clouds. Often dismissed as mundane, clouds are surprisingly complex and stimulate creative thinking, real-time problem solving, self-reflection and environmental stewardship n children. Studying clouds can ignite passion and creativity, while teaching students a variety of skills.Cloud formations are like works of art, carrying distinct shapes and patterns. Even hundreds of years ago, some cultures believed specific formations brought special meaning, such as rain or a storm. Today, while I personally can’t make any reliable predictions, clouds do offer insight into the environment around us.  As students spend time outdoors noticing and observing clouds, they learn to take note of small details. Our learners have been exploring the different shapes and textures of the clouds and comparing them. I am also asking questions to guide their observations. For example, I’ll ask them to notice how the clouds move, or how fast they move compared to other clouds. On our nature walks, sometimes we try to mimic the shape of clouds and move as a group in the same direction that the clouds are moving. It’s quite comical and a great team building activity.  I’d love to hear how your outdoor explorations are going with your classes – so please share your adventures by tagging Mentoring Nature Connections on Instagram. And check out the MNC website for other updates at www.mentoringnatureconnections.ca Until next time, go get your hands dirty and have fun with mentoring nature connections.   

My class of grade 1 and 2 learners have continued our routine of being outdoors every day, ranging from 30 minutes up to almost 2 hours.  The last few weeks we have been noticing how many different types of trees we have on our school grounds - too many to choose from! Listen to today's episode for how we began learning about the western red cedar and how we will continue to use that knowledge to compare and contrast with the other trees that live near us - like the massive Douglas Fir! A big thank you to all of those who are sharing your outdoor learning journey with us on social media by tagging @mentoringnatureconnections on IG. You can also visit the newly updated MNC website at www.mentoringnatureconnections.ca 

We are having unusually warm weather for October here in British Columbia.  We are taking advantage of the sunshine by going out on daily nature walks to explore the different spaces on our school grounds. We are learning about our local birds and keeping a monthly bird count. We are talking about the impacts humans have on nature and reminding ourselves how our smallest actions have both positive and negative consequences.  Instagram: @mentoringnatureconnectionsTwitter: @lkmacleanWebsite: www.mentoringnatureconnections.ca Music Video for From the Trees song by Brandon Grant on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvmlotbPl7I 

Today’s episode is going to be about starting the school year with outdoor learning routines. I am going to share with you how the last week has gone, what we’ve discovered, what our challenges have been and what we’re looking forward to exploring with next week.  What are the expectations when we go on a nature walk? We stay together as a group, we don’t pick living things just for the sake of it, and we stop often to observe and reflect together.  To gather all the learners together, I make a chickadee call – chickadee dee dee. One of our favourite activities this week was looking at dandelions and their common look alikes (Hairy Cats Ear). Did you know that if you pick the stem and it’s hollow, then it’s a dandelion. If you pick the stem and it’s not hollow, then it’s the Hairy Cats Ear.  You can also use the stem of a dandelion as a flute! I also talk about how we are beginning our local bird inquiry. I can’t wait to see how this inquiry progresses over the year.  Some of the hazards we have discussed as a class: we never touch mushrooms (we have a few varieties that are unsafe) as well as the protocol for when we see a black bear. Sit Spot song: From the Trees by Brandon Grant

Today’s episode is all about outdoor play, both the possibilities and the challenges.  To help us dig into this topic, we have Claudine Mossberg with us.  She offers 1:1 coaching to Design Your Time Outdoors the way it works for you, and Group coaching to Build Your Outdoor Community for outdoor play, co-op or forest school style learning for all ages.  Some of the highlights of today's episode are talking about the importance of unstructured play at any age, from our youngest toddlers to our teenagers.  Claudine also highlights the many benefits of exploring with multi-aged groups. She talks about how the older kids have the opportunities to become mentors and the younger kids benefit from seeing their counterparts as being leaders.  Claudine also gives some great tips on how to start the school year on the right foot. She suggests starting off with safety expectations and gives some great examples of her call system.  A call system allows you to communicate with your children in case they get too far.  One call sound means respond. 2 call sounds means they need to come back to the teacher. 3 call means come for help.  At the end of the episode, we dig into some of the challenges of outdoor learning, like time and weather. You can find out more about Claudine's work on her website: www.outdoorplayconnection.com and make sure to follow her on Instagram: @outdoorplayconnection

Our guest is Dr.Beverlie Dietze who is the Director of Learning and Applied Research at Okanagan College. She is a lead researcher on two national outdoor pedagogy projects.  She is the author or co-author of seven textbooks, many peer reviewed articles, and publisher of Play Outdoors Magazine.  https://playoutdoorsmagazine.ca. Dr. Beverlie believes it begins with the mindset of the educator. Let's model having a growth mindset - "It's raining!! Yippie! Let's go explore!."And remember, we don’t always have to write things down to justify our time.  Let’s practice oral storytelling! Maybe play charades?!Beverly highlights some lovely examples of puppet play and how it allows for children who are introverted to have confidence to participate in oral language activities. One of her lovely examples is how to use provocations to support storytelling experiences. E.g., taking your rubber boots on a journey!Other provocations we may consider? Using puddles as a mirror to explore with symmetry and reflections. Novelty Nature Notes:Beverly’s novelty nature note: Mom and dad birds don’t stay in the nest – they are promoting independence. When do those birds leave the next? My novelty nature note is about the dark eyed junco which can be found across north America. They do love our forested areas, they love to eat seeds – so common at our bird feeders, they nest typically on the ground near an upturned tree for protection, they have a cute hop instead of a walk and they love to scratch a leaf litterSo my inquiry question is: where do different birds nest? 

Today's episode is about the evolution of confidence in our learners as they explore the outdoors.  Logan Enns and Aura Garzon are the founders of the Kollektive which is an outdoor program that provides children with opportunities for discovery and exploration. Above all else, they believe in the magical power of the outdoors!www.thekollektive.caWe begin our conversation by talking about how their program supports and promotes confidence and independence.  They both notice that many children enter their program with some level of tentativeness.  As time passes, they learn to trust themselves and what their bodies are capable of.  We also talk about how the flow of their day is organized.  They demonstrate respectful and thoughtful awareness when speaking about how they follow the children's pace and passions when they are exploring.  My favourite question was when I asked them if they ever noticed their children complain about being bored. Their answer highlights their amazing gifts as being gentle and mindful educators! I always love a good book suggestion! Logan and Aura highly recommend Wild Things: Over 100 Magical Outdoor Adventures (https://amzn.to/3stYXM3).  In it, you will find an encyclopedia of ideas for how to utilize natural materials and situations (like frost!).My novelty nature note was about snails and hibernation.  They actually curl up inside their shell and close off the opening with skin that's part chalk and part slime.  This combination is how they stay so well insulated from the cold weather.  Logan and Aura shared their observations on the local squirrel population and how they are getting ready for the cold winter months!

Hi everyone, welcome back to mentoring nature connections. 2022 hasn’t exactly been the start of the school year that we were all hoping for. I’m hoping that everyone is staying healthy and safe and I’m hopeful that we’ll make it through to the other side. Thank you to everyone who has reached out about my first book Me and My Sit Spot. It is available on amazon and other online platforms. If you follow me on twitter @lkmaclean or Instagram @ mentoringnatureconnections, I will make an announcement as soon as it’s available on the website. www.mentoringnatureconnections.caToday’s topic is about reflecting on the last few months and then setting plans as we look forward.  Something I’m sure we are all doing right now with the new year on our heels.  April Pikkarainen is back to share her experiences doing outdoor prep for teachers at her school.  For those of you who aren’t from our province of BC, we have preparation blocks here where another teacher will relieve you of your learners so that you can “prep” learning materials, do assessments, etc.  So what worked so well for April and her learners? *Setting up nature routines, like sit spots, nature walks, etc. and practicing these routines in different locations around the schoolgrounds.  *Expectations and slowing down with introducing these nature routines – contributed to the success and positive emotions of the learners when outdoors. *From a workshop April took from ‘Unlearn’ - Names are the beginning of someone’s story – However, April believes that names are the beginning of story because it helps ground the learners connection to place.  *Teaching outdoors provides so many opportunities for both the teachers and the learners.  April believes that we need to be grounded in purpose and intention while we balance the changing elements such as weather. What are April's next steps and goals for outdoor learning?*she's interested in incorporating more technology into her outdoor learning adventures, such as digital microscopes and identification apps.*her school is also interested in uncovering the story of the land through data collection. Very cool!Resources that April recommends:*Messy Maths by Juliet Robertson (click here)*Dirty Teaching by Juliet Robertson (click here)*Ensouling our School by Jennifer Katz (click here)*Decolonizing Place in Early Childhood Education by Kidile Nxumalo (click here)April's Novelty Nature Note: * Calliope hummingbird – smallest at 3 inches long, 1/10 of an ounce - found in central BC *Short wingspan, when flapping wings, sounds like a bumble bee Lauren's Novelty Nature Note:*Robin's maintain their warmth in the winter by fluffing up their feathers. *They don't necessarily migrate, but they are nomadic - following wherever the food is.*They eat fruit off trees and shrubs like snowberries or kinnickinnic (bearberries)April Pikkarainen's Twitter: April_pikk 

Today’s topic is about sustainability and well-being (such an important topic this time of year when the days are dark and short). It’s so important to consider what steps we can take to support our mental health.  For many of us, this is going to include spending time with our family, friends, and being outside. That’s one of the reasons why today I have my infant daughter, Evelyn, sitting on my lap while I speak to our guest today. You’ll often hear her babbling along with excitement which I hope spreads a little extra cheer to you as you’re listening. Now to help us investigate this topic of sustainability, we have Kristina Hunter joining us by zoom.  She lives in Winnipeg Manitoba on Treaty 1.  She is the founder of Kristina Hunter Flourishing and has a podcast called Live. Well. Green where she discusses a wide range of topics around sustainability and ecological green living.  I am looking forward to asking her about sustainability and well-being and how we can foster these principles in our school system.  Visit www.kristinahunterflourishing.com to find out more information about the courses she offers!Kristina believes that it’s not just about ecological sustainability but also financial and cultural sustainability. She discuss ways that we can move beyond sustainable development.  She views sustainability like a tree with 3 main roots:1)Personal wellness – not just problems with the environment, plastic pollution, deforestation, etc.  can often make us feel overwhelmed – the problems are too big to tackle.By connecting with nature, we protect our mental health. Physical, mental, spiritual health are all part of this root / personal wellness.2)Social Justice- looking to change systemic racism, marginalized voices, environmental racism that are part of our reality. Respecting everyone’s say. 3)Ecological – litterless lunches, live lighter on the planet (reducing carbon emissions), Being restorative on the land. Lastly, restoring our relationship with nature. Sometimes we see the environment as “out there,” separate from ourselves.  We are part of the natural world.Novelty Nature Note:Kristina shared about isostatic rebound, which you can find evidence of on the tundra where she lives.  When glaciers recede, the heavy weight of the glacier is now gone which allows the land to 'bounce back.'  Now, when you're walking on the tundra, even 1km away from the ocean, you can see a lake with a beach! My novelty nature note is about snow because we have a lot of it up where I live! First, even though it looks white – it’s actually transclucent, just like frozen water. It’s the suns reflection that gives it a white appearance.  Also, the snow actually warms you up – because compacted snow is over 90% trapped air…. So this is why animals dig burrows in the snow, their body heat keeps them warm under there.

Our guest today is Dr. Gillian Judson, assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University.  She has a passion for looking at imagination’s role in leadership and learning. We discuss what the walking curriculum is and how we can incorporate cognitive tools to help us imaginatively and emotionally engage our learners.  Gillian shares some examples of her inquiry questions and how they are used by Kelsey Keller in her intermediate classroom. Dr. Gillian Judson :Twitter: @perfinker Blog: www.educationthatinspires.ca Books:Walking Curriculum, Evoking Wonder And Developing Sense of Place (K-12) https://amzn.to/318WFItEngaging Imagination in Ecological Education: Practical Strategies for Teachers https://amzn.to/3relKfGImagination and the Engaged Learner: Cognitive Tools for the Classroom https://amzn.to/3CWJzuI

Have you ever wondered what the benefits are to using natural dyes? Today's episode will help you dip into some colourful lessons and hands-on activities with your learners.  Our guest, Sarah Graham, guides us through the process of natural plant dyeing and tackles questions like:How does the process work from start to finish?What is your favourite plant to make a natural dye?Which plants should we avoid using?What are your best tips and strategies in terms of classroom management when engaging in these type of lessons? Sara Graham is an artist based in Port Moody, BC, Canada whose primary concern is with the issues and ideas of the contemporary city. One of her central engagements in her practice is in the mapping of place and how the city and landscape interconnect with our everyday lives. She has been a practicing artist for twenty-three years and exhibited her work across North America. Sara was recently announced as the artist who will create a large scale public artwork at the new Gordie Howe International Bridge in Ontario. The artwork will be incorporated into the façade of the Energy Complex Building at the Canadian Port of Entry. Come listen to Sara discuss how to dye with plants and flowers and how we could do, as classroom teachers, engage in other place-based and arts-based lesson ideas afterwards.  Enjoy! Sara Graham Social Media:Twitter: @saracitymoveInstagram: @citimovementVisit: www.mentoringnatureconnections.ca for a blog post on today's episode as well as other teaching resources for your classroom.  

Alana Tesan is our amazing guest tonight!  She is a Kindergarten teacher in the Delta District, BC, CanadaTwitter: @AlanaTesan www.mentoringnatureconnections.ca  Alana believes that children are natural storytellers. You can find her interview excerpt in the Story Workshop: New Possibilities for Young Writers book by Susan Harris McKay.  Story Workshop is a way for learners to explore their imagination and Alana believes that every learner has a story that lives inside them. There is no right or wrong way to engage in storytelling.  The possibilities are open, invitational and inclusive.  Alana suggests that a key to “success” is to start small and let the kids drive their own stories.  By going outdoors, we can also explore stories that live on our land.  We can use the materials that we find on our schoolgrounds to help tell our stories.  But what else do they take outdoors to support storytelling? Their class has a wagon that is packed full of clipboards, paper, crayons, sharpies and (weather depending) some iPads to help with documentation. Oral language and communication skills are woven throughout story workshop naturally.  Alana was inspired by Kelly Shuto (@kellyshuto and @kellyshutobooks) on how to incorporate core competency language during story workshop explorations.  Novelty Nature Note:I shared about Douglas Squirrels who have a high growth rate which means they are constantly chewing to wear down their front teeth.  I love this connection to Beavers!Alana shared about the book: Can You Hear the Trees Talking? By Peter Wohlleben and how they use an underground root system to communicate with one another.  

Have you ever wondered how to spend an entire day outdoors with your learners? How do you structure your time? What games do you play? What "lessons" can we explore?To help us dig into these questions, we invited Manon McPeters (from Wilderness Awareness School) back for Part 2!  Her passion and creativity for playing, learning and teaching outdoors is palpable! You'll appreciate her vivid description of a "typical" day and how they use Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young to guide their intentions.  My biggest takeaway from speaking with Manon was when she described what "peak fun" is and how we can use that as a classroom management strategy. This notion of reading the flow of our learners' energies is such an important key in how we observe, listen, and respond to the needs of our kids.  Want to learn a new nature game?! Manon gives a great description of how to play blindfold ninja!  Novelty nature note:Manon shared some tracking gems!  A domestic dog often has more ‘relaxed’ foot muscles. The toes will be more splayed apart, the X negative space will be less defined and the star shaped peak will not be as high.  But when you're observing the track of a wild dog, it will have a more sharply defined X.  Cat has a C shape in negative space. Only one lead toe, not two lead toes. Usually don’t register claws in tracks.  All toes can fit into a heel pad.  Toes of a dog will NOT fit into heel pad space.  My novelty nature note was about black bears and how their cubs can weigh less than a pound at birth and gain over 20 pounds in just their first 3 months of life. 

Megan Zeni is a Master Gardener, PhD student and school garden expert who works for the Richmond School District.  In today's episode, she shares with us some of her best secrets and tips on how to set up core routines with her learners at the beginning of the year (such as the Waiting Tree, to help with exit and entry transitions!). Megan is a strong advocate for outdoor learning because it supports learners having a positive growth mindset, develops patience and promotes equity.  It allows learners, who may struggle to represent their learning in a “traditional” way , to move freely and make decisions that are best suited for them, which in turn, provides them with more autonomy over their learning, One of my favourite insights that Megan shares with us is how she explicitly introduces activities that can turn into station work. This gradual release of responsibility highlights how important classroom management strategies are, both indoors and outdoors! Megan also gives us some suggestions on how to use outdoor learning spaces for when fall transitions into winter.  Have you ever thought of having a 'Bug Hotel'?! Or a Mud Kitchen – link here. https://meganzeni.com/build-a-mud-kitchen/ Novelty Nature Notes:I shared about inchworms because I’m just getting covered in them when I go walking in the forest lately.  They also go by other names, such as measuring worm, oak looper, leaf roller, and spring cankerworms.  I was reading that they are only here for about 4-5 weeks before they burrow into the ground and then we’ll see them again in the fall as geometer moths.Megan shared about growing corn with her learners.  They plant POPCORN! Have you ever noticed that each silk thread is attached to a kernel of corn - if there are kernels missing, then the silk wasn't pollinated by a bee! 

The start of the year is the perfect time to have this collaborative discussion. How to create outdoor learning bins? How do they support both structured lessons and emergent learning at the same time? What could we include in the bins? Sinead Joy and Erin Reid are with us today to talk about their experiences in creating and using outdoor learning bins with a mathematical focus. Their school, with the help of funding from Coquitlam District's Numeracy Initiative Project, created 6 outdoor learning bins.1) Measurement: cloth measuring tapes2) Number Senses: addition and subtraction focus. Tarps with dots and number values. (e.g., students could throw a bean bag or pinecone and add or subtract that number from their original number).3) Patterns: included Andy Goldsworthy books and other pictures of nature patterns4) Financial Literacy: a bin for pricing out the cost for a school garden and also included seed catalogues5) Visual/Spatial Reasoning and Coding: compass and arrows6) Number Sense/ Number Lines: twine, clothes pegs and various numbers.Also included in their teacher wagon: binoculars, clipboards, waterproof pens, large plastic Venn diagram hoops for sorting activities.