Learning+Outdoors

Connecting STEM with Fieldwork: MfA Elementary Cohort Meeting Here is the presentation and list of the resources that we (may have) shared during the MfA Elementary Cohort Meeting. Please reach out for more information, a file, or anything else. = media type="custom" key="29578633" align="center"

= =Why Teach Outside?= Do you need a reason? :) =[|30 Ways to Take Your Lessons Beyond Your Classroom Walls]!= Get inspired to find quick learning ideas outdoors!

=[|Outdoor Classroom Day!]= Organized index to search for activities by subject and grade!

=Nature Explorations= Taking a visit to the garden? Be like a scientist (and gardener and farmer!) and document your observations. What do you observe? What is not on the field journal that you do? Perhaps measure something's distance, weight, temperature, or...

=Creating a Plant Guide= English Language Learners use a custom plant species field guide to identify various plants in The South Bronx Schoolyard Garden and Outdoor Classroom. They are even making their own field guides for the garden. Watch as these students become botanists!

=Estimating and Measuring Time and Distance= Have a GPS watch? Use it for field trips or walking trips. This is a template for a.

=Tree Census= The students of PS 48 begin collecting data for a long term tree census of trees in the school garden and Drake Park. See sample lesson ideas connecting to PS 48's Hunts Point Slave Burial Ground Project

= Classroom Science Activities = Includes activities with trees, compasses, and another Nature Observation Sheet for student exploration. This observation sheet serves as a template that allows students to utilize scientific tools, including thermometers, compasses, and hand lens to observe and write about the natural world.

=Cemetery Investigation Field Experience Data Gathering Sheet= This is useful for geology and geography in order to develop observational and analytical skills while developing social studies and science content and vocabulary. Here is a list of useful materials to utilize while at Drake Park: magnifying lens, tablets such as iPads (optional), compass, paper and pencil, spare pencils (they will break or get lost!), the investigation sheet, archival white gloves, clipboards, and white paper to do rubbings of interesting objects and texts.

== Based on school guidelines, this one includes permission for recording audio, photos, and video of (and by) students. It also grants permission for contacting the parents via school messaging (i.e. Remind app).

=Be a Meteorologist= Quickly get outside during the snowy season. Use measuring tools, like thermometers and rules. Compare data collected by different student groups. Or measure on a continued basis to develop graphs and data analysis and interpretation.

=Brining the Outdoors Indoors= Geology- create rock collections on neighborhood walks, or have students bring in their owns rocks. Or walk around the school for building materials. Use Videos- to develop observation skills, inquiry and so on. Record quick video of animal(s)