Teaching in the outdoors in Western Maine often has it challenges when it comes to inclement weather. Though we try to go outside in both good weather and bad weather, sometimes it is simply just too wet or too cold. This is often a nearly devastating moment for our students as they look forward to… [Read More]
Brr It’s Cold Outside!
During the cold winter months, my students frequently ask, “Ms. Virgin, are we going outside today?” This week they had heavy hearts when the answer was no. Next came, “If the animals can be outside, how come we can’t?” This was the start of a beautiful learning moment…. We stayed inside and watched a super… [Read More]
Looking for Patterns
One of the activities that was presented in our Numeracy in Nature course sparked an idea to make a connection to one of the books I enjoy sharing with my middle school students “Growing Patterns” by Sarah C. Campbell. We started class by using a Google Jamboard to sort photos of flowers into categories. Students… [Read More]
Shapes & Sticks
For the month of October our focus with our calendar was shapes. We worked on identifying circles, triangles, rectangles and squares. We also introduced 3D shapes. This week when we went into the woods, I thought about ways I could bring our learning about shapes outdoors with us. I started to think about the interest… [Read More]
Shapes in the Snow
“It’s snowing!” There are absolutely no more exciting words that you will ever hear coming from a child! This week when we were heading out into the woods we were gifted our first coat of fresh white snow. The beautiful sight caused a little snafu in our original woods day plan but provided us with… [Read More]
Patterns in Nature
Math in the woods? How can that happen? Nature can help us do math? What does being outside have to do with math? These questions were just a few out of the mouths of 1st graders at the beginning of the year. These questions have evolved into look at these leaves, they make a pattern!… [Read More]
Compost that Strategy
There is something about counting that feels good. It’s rhythmic, it’s fun, and it’s a well-practiced skill. When given a set of objects like a box of chocolates or silverware, even adults resort to counting one by one. It works…until it doesn’t. Second graders solve problems with 2 and 3-digit numbers, thus requiring them to… [Read More]
Oak Leaves and Number Racks
It was a rainy November day and I wanted to add some nature to liven up our indoors on this gloomy day. Thankfully I had squirreled away some oak leaves, perfect for some engaging building 10 practice! I drew dots (in 10 frame formation) from 1-9 with sharpies on the oak leaves. Then I gave… [Read More]
Are We There Yet?
If there was one good thing to come out of the global pandemic, it was the growth of outdoor recreation as a way of life. Many families started hiking, and found it was a safe activity, and often a chance to socialize. One of the field trips classes have begun going on again are hikes,… [Read More]
