Going Primal: Building Wonder in Students Outdoors

I was fortunate enough to spend the previous weekend in Northern Minnesota walking through the Chippewa National Forest.  A light snow had dusted the area, creating a brilliant winter landscape that seemed to come from the pallet of Bob Ross.  As I began my walk, the wind howled all around me and made me wonder if being outside was the best idea.  As I entered the pine trees, there was an instant silence, the wind was gone and all I was left with were my thoughts.

As a classroom teacher, I have always loved getting my students outdoors.  Whether it was just getting outside to read book on a warm spring day or teaching students about crystal structures when looking at snowflakes, being outside trumped any day inside.  The greatest part, students wanting to be outside and the places their minds would go while being out there.  Taking a weekend up north is not the same as taking your classroom outside.  However, there can be the same rewards and wonderment.

Where to Start, Get Outside!

There are some simple strategies that you can use when going outside with your students to really get them started in how to explore the outdoors.  Sit Spots (Wilderness Awareness School and Dave Strich) are areas that students go out to connect to nature.  No lesson plans needed. Students sit quietly in nature and make observations of what is going on around them, what has changed or thoughts about what will happen next.  This simple strategy helps build wonder in our students will lead to engagement in discovering answers to the questions that they develop.  The Minnesota DNR has a great list of resources for what you should take with you outside your first time. Remember to keep it simple to start!

Going Further

Sit Spots are great, but what if you want to do more than just have students make observations? 

There are many programs and resources that are available online and in print.  Education Outside is a California based environmental science group that has designed a number of lessons for K – 5 students.  Lessons are broken down by month and topic and are designed to be done outside. 

Want to incorporate some technology into your outdoor education?

iNaturalist (iOS, Andriod) is a community based nature app that allows students to capture and identify plants, animals and insects in their community and get help identifying the species.  The identified living organisms are then linked to a Wikipedia fact page that helps students learn more about their surrounding community.  iNaturalist also contains local projects, students can create their own guides and get “Observations of the Week.”  These are just a couple of many great resources that are available online and in print.  Check with your state’s DNR to see what resources they may have available in your area.  Minnesota’s DNR has workshops and curriculum that are tailor made to Minnesota’s great outdoors!

Thanks for reading and enjoy your time outdoors,

Alex Townsend