The NES Wild program began in 2021 with grade 4 students from Nakoda Elementary, located in Mînî Thnî, Alberta, to help get them outside. Every afternoon, educators linked and Indigenized curriculum so students could embrace the land and their connection to it. Take Me Outside partnered with this program to create this short film to […]
By Elizabeth Boileau How important are the stories we tell about outdoor learning? Story books have a unique power to shape children’s outlook, motivate and inspire them. Children need to see themselves represented in stories of all types to know they have a world of possibilities before them. Last year, at an environmental education conference, […]
Sound Maps Grades: All Subjects: Arts & English Language Arts; Social Sciences; Natural Sciences; Math This was one of our most popular activity suggestions during the Winter Challenge, and luckily, it is great fun all year long! This is a great way to extend a sit spot activity, engage our senses and add in some art […]
Winter Bingo Grades: All Subjects: Arts & English Language Arts; Social Sciences; Natural Sciences; Math Learners can create their own winter bingo cards and set out on a quest to fill in the squares, or use a template like these great ones from the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Use images or words to scale sheets through […]
Crime Scene Creative Writing All Ages Curricular Areas: English Language Arts & Arts Education Either have learners create their own crime scene using props and natural materials or have an outdoor crime scene staged already before they arrive. Challenge students to develop a story inspired by the crime scene they create or discover. You […]
Fox Walking All Ages; especially beneficial for building in self-regulation and fine motor skills and control in all learners. Curricular Areas: Careers, Physical Health Education, Arts Education, Science Most fox walking sessions begin with a question such as “how many of you like to see wildlife? Who would like to learn how to get close […]
Nature Scavenger Hunts Curricular Areas: Math & Art Target Age Range: Primary (K-7) Outdoor scavenger hunts can range from relatively simple to complex. For this activity you can use whatever you have on hand and it can be done in an urban or natural setting. First you will need to have plenty of examples of […]
A three-year-old girl is with her dad at the park down the street from their home on a sunny, autumn afternoon. Her dad brought something he dug out of the storage, something he hadn’t played with in years, it’s his old soccer ball. Finding an open patch of grass, he places the artifact of his […]
Thanks to all the educators who joined us on May 28th for our webinar – Finding Hope Through Connecting to the Land. We are grateful to Chief Joe Pierre for sharing the Ktunaxa Creation Story and inspiring educators to help connect their students to the land. The webinar was recorded with permission and can […]
Kate Porter August 1, 2019 I love being outdoors, and as I have gained teaching experience I have learned how to navigate the barriers of taking students outside, and have come to a place in my career where learning outside has been enjoyable and effective. Teachers, if you are at the planning or brainstorming phase […]