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Welcome Center
A Welcome Message For You
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0-1: Welcome! Please Introduce Yourself 30 minLecture1.1
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0-2: A Note from Victoria 30 minLecture1.2
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0-3: Share a goal or intention for this class 30 minLecture1.3
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Module One: Strengthen Your Professional Identity as a Natural Teacher
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1-1: Create Goals and Intentions 30 minLecture2.1
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1-2: Five Steps to Prepare your Foundation for the Best Year Yet 30 minLecture2.2
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1-3: Get Curious with Montessori, Waldorf & Reggio 30 minLecture2.3
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1-4: Use Nature as a Guide: Wonder Based Teaching 30 minLecture2.4
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Module Two: Create Your Map of Intention
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2-1: Five Stages to Intentional Teaching Outdoors 30 minLecture3.1
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2-2: Five Tracks for Your Road Trip to Become a Natural Teacher 30 minLecture3.2
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2-3: Learn from our National Parks: America’s Largest Outdoor Classroom 30 minLecture3.3
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2-4: Harvest Your Manifesto & Create a Vision Board 30 minLecture3.4
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2-5: Workshop #1: RecordingLecture3.5
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Module Three: Nurture A Garden Practice: The Transformation
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3-1: Growth through Gardening with Bobbie Mabe 30 minLecture4.1
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3-2: Ten Life Lessons for Outdoor Classrooms 30 minLecture4.2
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3-3: Become an Advocate of Nature-Based Teaching 30 minLecture4.3
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3-4: I Wonder Why: Claire Warden Keynote at Wow Conference 30 minLecture4.4
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Module 4: Behind the Scenes
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4-1: Live Workshop #2: Closing Circle 30 minLecture5.1
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4-2: Behind the Scenes with Jessica Kagle from Kestrel Educational Adventures 30 minLecture5.2
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4-3: Behind the Scenes with Lara Lepionka from Backyard Growers 30 minLecture5.3
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4-4: Put it all Together: What next? 30 minLecture5.4
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4-5: Workshop #2: RecordingLecture5.5
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40 Comments
Hi Mellany here,
Our service is planning on starting a brand new garden in our play yard. It is our goal to create and and continue to look after an edible garden that the children can explore everyday in the spring and summer.
Beautiful!
Hello again everyone,
My name is Gina Ferreira. I’m a family childcare from Plymouth, Ma. I work with a mixed age group from birth through Pre-K. One of the things that I would like to learn is how everyone is including outdoor exploration into their programs , what materials they’re using and how they’re using them. One of the challenges I face is balancing licensing regulations with incorporating natural materials into our experiences. My fondest memories from my childhood were of playing outside, exploring the woods, brook and pond near my home as well as gardening with my father.
Welcome and wonderful reflections…looking forward.
My name is June Cousineau and I work in Amherst, Massachusetts. I work in a class of 9 toddlers and we have a great school that has access to wonderful play yards as well as lots of different nature areas around to take walks to.
As for our current garden story, we were planning on starting investigating seeds and discovering what was under the soil when we turned it over, yet we left school before we really got a chance to delve into it very much. The past few years we have had a garden at our center for the children to dig in, plant, and eat from. Due to rules and regulations, we are no longer allowed to eat directly from the garden, but we have been told that we can pick and eat it later inside. We were hoping to plant herbs for the children to play with and smell as they interacted with them, maybe when we get back!
Thanks for sharing your reflections. Sad that the kids can’t eat from the garden.
My name is Sally. I work in Massachusetts as Resource Teacher at one of the area colleges.
I work with toddler through preschool age children. I am interested in creating a prenenial garden and an herb/ vegetable . The challange would be getting an area designated for a larger garden space. The bigger challange is the unknown, due to Covid. I am wondering about creating individual container gardens or planting wild flower seeds that can grow in wooded areas, allowing for more space between people. I am looking forward to the many ideas and resources this class offers.
Welcome! Thrilled you are here.
Hi. My class ranges from toddlers up to 5yoa. My goal once we reopen is to offer a visual garden they can feel proud of maintaining and exploring.
Beautiful!!
Who you are? Where are you from?
What age children do you work with?
What do you want to learn?
What are your challenging issues?
Your current garden story.
Hi, my name is Linda, I’m from Everett MA! I am a Leah teacher in a preschool class. I’m director 2 certified! We have been doing Zoom a couple times a week & one youtube video of circle time. We try to stay connected with the parents and kids as much as possible. We don’t have an outdoor area where I work. We do have plenty of plants in the school and we have outdoor curriculum, we also get caterpillers so that we can teach the children how they become butterflies. We do have a public garden in our city that we go visit so that is great. I hope to get more information and learn some great tips. Glad to be part of this training! Looking foward to meeting everyone.
Welcome!
Hello, My name is Kayleigh. I am currently teach preschool (3 year olds) I have a classroom with 10 children! I absolutely love the daily challenges of everyday and an looking to learn some new things to bring back to the classroom when we go back… I am working on teaching them from home right now due to COVID19….I never thought I would be teaching preschool online…it is a whole new type of challenge, that is for sure! I have made them 2 big care packages and they have loved all the fun activities in the boxes! I am really looking forward to learning some new outside the classroom things too! I am terrible at gardening and can barely keep my succulent plants alive….I know that is pretty bad hahahaha! I look forward to learning fun new things in this class!
Welcome!!
My name is Yliana, and I am currently teaching in Cambridge, ma. I work with preschool children, 2.9 to 5 years old. I want to learn more creative ways of teaching and feeling more comfortable with the outdoors. My current challenges are our
I have recently started working on our new site, and since it was winter I am not aware of their garden curriculum. As far as I know there are two gardening beds outside our classroom. But other than that we do not have any other type of immediate nature. So I would like to find a place close by that is safe to explore nature in a deeper way.
My experience with gardens, every year we do window gardens to observe the changes. Each year we explore them differently, but my goal is to continue that curriculum rather than just a seasonal topic.
So hard to be away. It will be fun to learn the gardening curriculum and bring new ideas back.
Hi, Introduced myself earlier thinking one of them did not go through. Where I work there is a gardening area for the preschool and kindergarten classes, but not for toddlers, or infants. It would be great to get ideas on how to go about doing that once the school opens back up.
Yes!
Hi , grew up in Puerto Rico . My grandfather worked as a farmer planting vegetable and selling them . I had contact with nature.
Wow..that is beautiful.
Hello again,
I introduced myself earlier but to continue, we have created a built in slide on the hill for our toddlers to use and have several different sized logs or large tree cookies for the children to climb on or move around on the two toddler playgrounds. We often lift them up to look for worms or insects underneath of them. We only have one large pine tree and a smaller tree (I do not remember the type but will ask for later) on our playground. We also have a sand box and a raised garden bed, though we have nothing growing in it at the moment.
Sounds wonderful!
Hello Again,
I introduced myself on the previous page but, in summary, I am the Program Director for a small preschool in downtown Framingham. We are a new program and I am starting from scratch in the outdoor space. Last year, we added a mud kitchen area and a sandbox. We also had a donation of tree stumps. The children love all of these materials and make great use of them in the outdoors. The Mud Kitchen is a huge hit and they cook up all kinds of fascinating foods! I’m excited to see how I can extend their outdoor play in this area!
I LOVE mud kitchens. A brilliant way to start your outdoor classroom! If you have any pictures, be sure to post them on with the Facebook group.
Hello, the ages i work with vary so i haven’t tried doing a garden before but I noticed that some of you mentioned having indoor gardens. What plants or veggies would you recommend growing inside of an indoor garden or something simple to start with for a smaller outdoor garden for someone who has yet to try growing anything. How would you suggest splitting activity parts for the various age groups?
GREAT QUESTIONS!! Gardens don’t just have to be food. One thing you can do with your kids grow seeds. Beans are really easy. Super fun. Just having plants in your classrooms is also a wonderful addition. You can grow the seeds in little pots or egg cartons. Lot’s of possibilities.
Hi,
I introduced myself earlier.My name is Jen and I am a public preschool teacher. Since being home I have started a garden. I was hopiNg to bring them into my classroom. Any tips or information you can share is greatly appreciated.
Wonderful!!!! Can’t wait to get started!
Hi! My name Robin. I introduced myself earlier. I hoping to gain alot of knowledge about gardening/planting and how to teach the children more about the outdoors. I dont have a green thumb at all. I hope I will by the end of this course.
Ahhh…one of the things that you will learn from Outdoor Classrooms is that you don’t need a green thumb to have an outdoor classroom. So excited to share all that is ahead. Welcome!
Hello.
I saw the same challenge that I am facing at on the blog. My school doesn’t have enough space for outdoor play. it’s size of a parking space for 2 cars. We take kids outside almost everyday depends on the weather. For infants(6 months and up), I would love to bring outdoor into the classroom even though it’s hard to create the environment.
Don’t give up! There are still lot’s of options. It just means you may need to get a little more creative and change up your space a little more often with featured activities. I’m glad you are here.
Hello
My name is Talia Salom and I live in Chestnut Hill MA. I’m preschool teacher. The school where I work uses the Reggio Emilia method.Our school has been in operation for a year and a half, we are pretty new. We have many plans to continue growing and one of them is to create a bio-garden where children can significantly learn and value about nature. This course came at the right time because when I return to school (maybe in may) I plan to start organizing our garden project with the children. About my Children, they are terrific and what I noticed is that they enjoy so much ALL the outdoor activities, especially those that get dirty! Now in Spring we can touch so many nature related topics outside of class that I am sure we will enjoy!
Thank you
It’s so exciting to know that you are working at a Reggio school. It’s a beautiful method of teaching. I’m excited to know that this class came at the right time. Yea! Looking forward.
Hi, I live in the Berkshires in western MA. I’m the director of a center with 45 children; infants, toddlers and preschoolers. I have been the director for 9 years and was a preschool teacher here before that for 6 years. I have also taught Kindergarten, first and 2nd grade. I have many parents who would like to see more intentional learning outside and am excited for this learning opportunity. I haven’t done any of these courses before. Thanks!
Welcome! I’m thrilled that you are here! Lot’s of fun ahead!
Hello, my name is Nelly, I live in Randolph it is 30 minutes from Boston. I have worked with kids from 0 to 5 and I also have 3 boys that love to be outdoor. I work in a center but am looking to learn more about the outdoors to bring ideas and knowlege to the children. I don’t have to much space and I think thats my issue. Im glad to be here.
Welcome! I’m glad you are here and can’t wait to get started. Thanks for sharing a little of your story. Looking forward.
Hi, my name is Ana Fernandez. I’m from Holyoke, Hampden County. The age group that I work with is preschool age 2.9-3.9. I would like to know how to be creative outdoors and make it fun for the children. The challenging issue I have is that our outdoors is very limited, so how could I make fun for the children with limited space. My gardening story is I love to garden, and I have my herb garden and vegetable garden. My mom taught me how to garden and what you need to have a fantastic garden.
Welcome, Ana! I’m thrilled that you are here and looking forward to finding creative ways to make it fun for children to be in your outdoor space. Can you describe what your children do now outdoors and how it is limiting?