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INTRODUCTION: LET'S GET STARTED! 5
Exploring Nature in Winter e-Workshop
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0-1: Welcome! Important Things to KnowLecture1.1
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0-2: A Note From Victoria 30 minLecture1.2
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0-3: Key Reflective Questions 30 minLecture1.3
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0-4: Set Goals for You and Your Winter Program 30 minLecture1.4
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0-5: Become a “Winterscape” ResearcherLecture1.5
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Module 1: PREPARE & PLAN TO TEACH OUTDOORS IN WINTER 6
10 Nature-Based Activities
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1-1: Begin with Proper Outer Gear 30 minLecture2.1
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1-2: Discover Your Winter Teaching Routines Outdoors 30 minLecture2.2
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1-3: Make a Winter Garden Journal 30 minLecture2.3
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1-4: Create a Winter Themed Children’s Library 30 minLecture2.4
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1-5: Enjoy Wet Cold Weather OutdoorsLecture2.5
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1-6: LIVE SESSION: Natural Learning Outdoors in WinterLecture2.6
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Module 2: WINTER INSPIRED TEACHING AND LEARNING 6
10 Nature-Based Activities
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2-1: Transform Your Cold Weather Outdoor Classroom 30 minLecture3.1
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2-2: Let’s Play! 10 Nature-Based Winter Activities 30 minLecture3.2
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2-3: Behind the Scenes with Nicole Pelletier 30 minLecture3.3
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2-4: LIVE SESSIONS 30 minLecture3.4
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2-5: Inspire Outdoor Play & Learning in WinterLecture3.5
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2-6: Explore The Four Types of Gardens in WinterLecture3.6
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Module 3: YOUR COLD WEATHER OUTDOOR CLASSROOM 6
Winter Themed Children's Books
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3-1: Explore Water Research in Cold Weather 30 minLecture4.1
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3-2: Let’s Play! Ten Nature-Based Winter Activities 30 minLecture4.2
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3-3: Behind the Scenes with Peter Dargatz 30 minLecture4.3
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3-4: Establish “Moments of Science” in Winter 30 minLecture4.4
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3-5: Stay Outside LongerLecture4.5
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3-6: LIVE SESSIONLecture4.6
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Module 4: COLLABORATION & EMERGENT WINTER CURRICULA 6
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4-1: Learn through Reflection 30 minLecture5.1
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4-2: Let’s Play! Ten Nature-Based Winter Activities 30 minLecture5.2
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4-3: Build Collaboration Skills 30 minLecture5.3
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4-4: LIVE SESSION 30 minLecture5.4
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4-5: Emergent Curriculum with Megan GesslerLecture5.5
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BONUS: LIVE SESSION for GraduatesLecture5.6
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29 Comments
Having an outdoor space with defined areas (art, sensory, etc.) is a dream! One idea that would be a long-range goal for my classrooms would be an Art Area. I’d like to work with the teachers to figure out how they would build it up slowly and meaningfully with different activities and options for the children – so it can be child-led.
A shorter-ranged goal would be a sensory table. In my classroom, we had used cement mixing tubs as additional sensory bins – this might be great to keep the “social-distancing” mandate – two kiddos at a tub?
A goal I worked towards today was getting the children interested in tracking! As I was rolling snowman snowballs with children, we noticed different boot prints in the snow and the children automatically tried to match child/boot! I would move this discussion into animal tracks found on the playground. There’s probably an app for that!
I love this…especially how one idea leads to the next. Awesome!
In the winter I struggle with the amount of snow that we get on our playground. It buries everything and things that I put out disappear in the snow not to be seen until Spring. It is like Christmas time when the snow begins to melt but at this time we spend a lot of time looking for things that have been swallowed up. I do a lot of pre planned science experiments so I loved the idea of an Inspired Writing Area in the snow! Posing a question on a stick with words on leaves is genius! We do section off an area and hide large plastic letters as well as Ice “Treasures” to dig for.
wonderful!! Christmas in Sprng! hahaha. Can’t wait to see what you do with the Inspired Writing Area. Let us know.
Our group has eased into a daily routine for outdoor adventures. Our older children get themselves geared up for a walk in the woods while the younger children are finishing snack…then they go out. We all meet up in the outdoor classroom for fun and exploration. This winter has had been fairly mild which has made it easier for the children to enjoy the various activities and materials available to them. For the most part, the mud kitchen, with its endless supply of mud, has been the favorite!
Love this!
We utilize a lot of the woods around our school where the children have oftentimes already created ‘forts’ previously in the school year. Watching them alter their play in these areas in the winter months is so much fun. The woods also offers a lot of great natural and organic exploration into animals with tracking, bird watching etc – we are near a river and have wonderful wildlife. We love to boot skate and slide. I LOVED the ‘wonder box’ ideas and can’t wait to create some of those for our playground. I think its such a fantastic jumping off point and invitation to explore further. Another goal of mine is to also think about how we can slightly alter our sand box during the winter months so it’s used more often. Once the sand is frozen the kiddos tend to lose interest and I’m excited to challenge my thinking and come up with other ideas for that space.
I love this reflection and how you are challenging yourself and setting goals. Wonderful to think of how you can alter existing spaces during different months. Awesome job!
I have many areas indoors and out that have loose nature items within. The challenge is thinking of new ways and ideas for their use. I know this class will help with that. I really haven’t put anything into the block area yet so that is a place I can focus on. Also I struggle to manage loose parts outside and haven’t found a way to best store them that fits our schedule, space, and structure of outdoor play time.
Have you thought of using milk crates to store loose parts? You can add laminated pictures and words to label them–so kids can “put them away when done. The beauty of natures loose parts is that if they are left outdoors–it feels ok and natural.
I loved the idea of the Natural Art ice garland. We are freezing grass seed in ice and will try the garland to drape on the trees.
We are still using shaped ice also through the end of the month, and the children are always curious to see what shapes will be there.
The ice “hunt” is always going on.
I love having an Outdoor Classroom at our school because we have so many areas that can be invitations to learn.
Our Mud kitchen has changed in that there is less to “stir in” because it is mostly frozen to the ground.
The children are being creative coming up with ideas. We have a gathering area of split logs that nestles in the edge of the woods.
The Teacher presents information to the group here, and then they are off to learn ! Looking for tracks and signs of animals in Nature is always a it. They love the Fairy Garden, and I loved the picture you showed of the stump. That solves our stump problem!!! I agree, Weezie’s Garden is a must see. You see something new every time you go! It is absolutely spectacular there.
Love!
I am inspired with adding more options and changing them out. I want to make a more intimate gathering space, right now we have a large auditorium style seating. I want to make one with stumps out by our forest. I would also like to see a weather station in our play yard and an art area. I don’t know what that looks like yet but I am excited to bring some of these ideas back to our team to brainstorm! There is so much to do and so little time.
I can hear the bubbling of ideas happening! Yea YOU! Can’t wait to see how all this comes to be.
I like the idea of putting things out on a table/ground – no explanation necessary- but an invitation to explore. As a facilitator of the experience, it is sometimes difficult to step back and let the children get into it and play and explore, and I try not to intervene with directions but instead watch and see what unfolds. Sometimes I find this challenging and I want to try to take a step back and let the children construct their own unique experience. The outdoor classroom certainly lends itself to that kind of experience – plenty of space, lots a materials, and loose parts.
As I was reading your post, I could feel as if there was a breath that offered more spaciousness is child’s play. Thank you for sharing.
such great ideas here! I really love the image of the stick with all the words written on leaves around it. I imagine that was a beautiful conversation leading up to that image! something I will definitely aim to try.
Ahhh….I never thought of what the conversation might have been leading up to this activity. Beautiful!
I also liked the stick with the leaves. I am thinking I might do this with words and pictures. What inspiration!
Seeds of Inspiration…one idea leads to the next. Have fun!
I love all the curiosity questions! They have me thinking! I love the wonder box idea, I am going to try it! And I love the story line idea as well, a new way to add literacy to the play space. Thank you!
TERRIFIC!!! You are on your way!
I LOVE the Wonder box!!! What a great idea to set up. I’m looking forward to sharing/posting a peek at our own little outdoor space on the Facebook group later.
Such a simple idea too! 🙂
I am going to do the glove gardens and the mandalas for sure might be fun to use nuts and berries and watch from our classroom to see what eats the mandala.
The Glove Garden is another favorite. Take pictures of the process as you will be amazed! I love the idea of adding nuts and berries to your outdoor Mandala. Another project where you can use photography–maybe even project your findings (picture journal) onto the wall indoors–if you have some sort of projector. I love how one idea can plant seeds for so many more ideas. Have fun with this one.
We’ve done the story stones with A Very Hungry Caterpillar also but her’s are beautiful. We do not have lots of room I love so the children would love bringing a branch in and putting birds nests in it and all the fabulous ideas for sticks!
Branches are a wonderful addition to any classroom. There are so many different activities you can draw from. I have included branches in many art shows. Also can keep the branch throughout the seasons and hang seasonal art. Love how your ideas are spinning on this snowy day! Keep up the great work and make sure you write down all these fabulous ideas so you have them. 🙂