Curated OER
Welcome to the First Day of School!
Classmates participate in a variety of getting-to-know-you activities for the first day of school. They make resolutions, become detectives about their fellow classmates, learn about each other by playing switch, and make welcome bags.
Curated OER
Mapping School Grounds
Young scholars map and analyze the natural and cultural environment of the school grounds. In small groups, they sketch the natural and cultural features of each side of the school building, create a map, participate in a class...
Curated OER
Let's Study Outdoors - Outdoor Classroom
Students research native plants. They identify the plant by scientific name, size, amount of water needed and color. Pupils measure and plot an area of school property. Students create an outdoor classroom. Additional cross curriculum...
Curated OER
Outdoor Classroom's for the '90s Student
Students relish in experiencing an outdoor classroom. Students sign a contract stating that they will follow the rules of the outdoor classroom. Students help to keep the outdoor classroom clean and up to date with all the needed...
Japan Society
Japanese Architecture for High School Students
Japanese architecture is rich in symbolism and culture. Critical thinkers engage in three activities intended to expose them to the beauty of Japan. They read through the book, Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki and watch the film...
Asian Art Museum
Japanese Architecture for Elementary School Students
Art and architecture go hand-in-hand. Kids watch clips from the Hayo Miyazaki film Spirited Away to better understand Japanese customs and architecture. The discussion questions included are very good, and will help you lead the class in...
Scholastic
We Are Moving on Up
Celebrate your class's achievements with this collection of reflective, rewarding activities. In a lesson plan designed to help your pupils transition to the next grade, students take part in up 13 activities that celebrate the end of...
Curated OER
Classification of the Nearby Trees
Third graders practice using classification techniques to identify local trees. In this plant life instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss how trees differ from other plants and what characteristics are unique to trees alone....
Curated OER
Wildlife Track Identification
Even though the PowerPoint slides for this lesson are not included, you may find it useful for the wildlife track preservation instructions provided. After demonstrating the steps for making track casts, take your class outdoors to make...
Curated OER
Outdoor Survival
Students identify the seven basic needs for survival. They describe the symptoms and treatment for frostbite and hypothermia. Students compare and contrast the value of different materials in a survival situation. They use their...
Curated OER
Planning A School Garden
Students discover how to plan a vegetable garden. Each student take responsibility for growing one vegetable from seed, to transplanting the seedling into the soil, and providing the plant with light, moisture, temperature and healthy soil.
Curated OER
Design Technology- Grow Your Own Grub
Students design a protective cover for outdoor plants. In this agricultural lesson, students use chicken wire, plastic sheeting, and empty bottles to construct a cover for lettuce leaves. Students take digital photos of their project.
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FBI
Fourth graders experiment with compost. In this Science lesson, 4th graders begin a worm compost as well as an outdoor compost. Students discuss decomposition.
Curated OER
Whose Afraid of Contemporary Art?
Have your class create original modern art sculptures. Learners analyze and discuss "The Profile," a sculpture by Martin Puryear. They work in teams to develop a proposal for a large outdoor sculpture in the community. Presentations...
Curated OER
Fossil Formation
A fossil is worth a thousand words! Individuals craft their own amber fossil of an insect in addition to molds and casts of seashells. A third activity takes the lesson a notch higher: Learners measure stride lengths between tracks and...
Curated OER
Making a Chiminea
A chiminea is an outdoor fireplace usually made from terracotta. Your class will make miniature versions of this useful heating device to practice specific sculpting techniques. This instructional activity spans four days. It includes...
Curated OER
Creek Teach
Students develop lessons which they teach to younger students in a type of outdoor education camp.
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Water Paintings
Pupils use water to paint pictures outdoors. In this water painting activity, students paint pavement and observe how water evaporates. They compare painting in sunny versus shady locations. They also use sponges to observe the imprints...
Curated OER
Outdoor Photography with Digital Cameras
Learners become familiar with perspective, composition and framing of pictures. For this photographing nature lesson, students photograph and then describe their pictures in a paragraph. Learners build pictures to tell a story about...
Curated OER
Tracks along the Trail
Students identify animal tracks outdoors. In this animal life lesson, students go outdoors and find several different animal tracks to identify. Students also discuss how animals must adapt in the winter months.
Curated OER
Spray Bottle Paint Mural
Sometimes all you need is a quick and easy outdoor art project. Perfect for the end of the school year, this mural project allows kids to make a mess while creating art. They use spray bottles full of paint to "spray" paint a large sheet...
Curated OER
Fun Through Fitness Day
Make fitness fun at your school! A list of outdoor activities for a "Fun Through Fitness Day" could be helpful in planning your own version of this activity. The resource describes what one school district has done in general, but does...
Nuffield Foundation
Biodiversity in Your Backyard!
Take your enthusiastic ecologists outdoors to explore the biodiversity right in their own schoolyard! In preparing for this activity, it may be worthwhile to research websites with local flora to help in the plant identification portion.
Curated OER
The Community Forest
Fourth graders plant a tree. In this sustainable forestry lesson, 4th graders define community forest and brainstorm a location to plant a new tree on the school grounds. Students learn how to plant a tree and discuss choosing an...