86. 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged Learners

Fall is a great time to start investigating wildlife in winter preparation. Some animals spend the fall caching food in places so they have enough to last the season. Some animals spend the fall moving to a place where they can meet their needs. Some animals put on fat and sleep through the winter. And there are some animals that stick it out and search each day to fulfill their basic needs.Press play to hear descriptions for a wildlife winter needs outdoor scavenger hunt for kindergarteners and a hot potato exposure experiment for 3rd graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how they relate to wildlife in winter preparation activities for kindergarten and 3rd grade, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.3-LS2-1: Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.Resources mentioned 💚Episode 90: 6 Picture Books to Introduce Animals Getting Ready for Winter for Elementary-Aged LearnersEpisode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideNaturally Teaching Activity IndexShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode91🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

November is a time for animals to get ready for winter! The migrators are the first to go and then slowly the other animals follow. Let's investigate how animals prepare to survive the season of scarcity!Books are a great way to introduce animals getting ready for winter. In this episode, I give you a brief summary of books to introduce animals getting ready for winter and my thoughts on how they can help you with your learners.Books in this episode 📚Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Richard G. Van Gelder, illustrated by Helen K. DavieOver and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal Time to Sleep by Denise FlemingAnimals in Fall: Preparing for Winter by Martha E. H. Rustad, illustrated by Amanda EnrightNot a Buzz to Be Found by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Jaime ZollarsHiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Salini PereraWant to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here!(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)Resources mentioned 💚“Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode90🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

Seeds are everywhere and so are the opportunities to investigate seed dispersal! Let's take advantage of what's happening right outside your classroom windows and do some seed dispersal activities that will help you fulfill your curricular goals this fall.Press play to hear descriptions for a seed dispersal engineering opportunity for 2nd graders and a gravity experiment for 5th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to seed dispersal, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:2-LS2-2: Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.5-PS2-1: Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.Resources mentioned 💚Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideEpisode 88: Seed Games 1st and 4th Graders This FallEpisode 86: 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged LearnersFlip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by Joann Early Macken, illustrated by Pam PaparoneSeeds Move! By Robin PageSeed Dispersal Types: 6 Innovative Ways Seeds Travel To New PlacesMiss Maple’s Seeds Book Companion for 2nd GradeNaturally Teaching Activity IndexShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode89🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

September is a great time to investigate seeds while it's still warm out. The combination of an abundance of native plants seeds and warm weather make for a great opportunity to play games about seeds.Press play to hear descriptions for a mystery board game about seeds for 1st graders and a fossil matching game for 4th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to seeds, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:1-LS1-1: Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.4-ESS1-1: Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.Resources mentioned 💚Episode 87: Seed Activities for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade This FallThe Game CrafterSeed Dispersal Types: 6 Innovative Ways Seeds Travel to New PlacesNaturally Teaching Activity IndexShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode88🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

September is the beginning of fall, but it's also when native plants are showing off their seeds! During the summer, plants worked hard to attract pollinators to their flowers, and now we're seeing the fruits of their labor! Let's take advantage of seeds this fall and get them working for your curriculum.Press play to hear descriptions for being detectives while reading pictures books about plant needs for kindergarteners and growing herb seeds to investigate plant life cycles for 3rd graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how they relate to seed activities for kindergarten and 3rd grade, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode:K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.3-LS1-1: Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.Resources mentioned 💚Episode 86: 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged LearnersEpisode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching in NatureThe Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony, illustrated by Cris ArboNaturally Teaching Activity IndexShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode87🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

September is the beginning of fall, but it's also a time for seeds! After spending spring and summer trying to attract pollinators, plants have successfully pollinated and made seeds.Books are a great way to introduce seeds, plant life cycles, how seeds move, and how animals help disperse seeds. In this episode, I give you a brief summary of seed books and my thoughts on how they can help you with your learners.Books in this episode 📚A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia LongSeeds by Carme LemniscatesFlip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by Joann Early Macken, illustrated by Pam PaparoneSeeds Move! By Robin PageThe Blue Jay that Grew a Forest by Lynn Street, illustrated by Anne HunterLittle Dandelion Seeds the World by Julia Richardson, illustrated by Kristen Howdeshell and Kevin HowdeshellWant to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here!(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)Resources mentioned 💚“Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”Episode 64: 7 Pollinator and Flower Books for Elementary-Aged StudentsShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode86🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

An outdoor education job seems to be hard to come by in this day-and-age. But would you believe me if I told you that there are people making their own jobs in the outdoor education field?In today's episode, Mariah Waters explains how she saw an opportunity and seized it. She talks about presenting, accepting, and developing the outdoor education specialist position at a private independent school in Texas for the 25'-26' school year.You'll definitely want to hit play to hear about how she proposed the idea, how she survived writing a year's curriculum for K-5 grade classes while teaching everyday, and advice she would give to others looking to do something similar. This is a must-listen interview!Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode85Connect with Mariah Waters: www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-waters🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

With school upon us, the stress levels are high for you and your learners. So let's help calm the nerves with some activities that can help you practice your outdoor learning routines and expectations.In this episode, I describe 5 beginning of the year activities that can help set you and your learners up for success this school year. I describe the activities, how they fit into practicing your outdoor learning routines and expectations, and what benefit they can give you and your learners in the first week back to school. Listen in to hear about the following activities:Practicing your routines and procedures for outdoor learningWorking together to ready your outdoor spaceReading a bookDecorating your science notebooksSetting goals for the yearResources mentioned 💚Episode 2: Outdoor Learning Environment: 3 Things to Plan for Back to SchoolEpisode 14: Outdoor Classroom Routines and Procedures: 5 Easy Activities for Your First Week OutsideEpisode 82: 6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning SpacesEpisode 83: 7 Picture Books for Going Back to SchoolEpisode 5: Science Skills for Students: 10 Picture Books for Encouraging Kid ScientistsShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode84🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

It's time to go back to school! Whether you've been looking forward to it or not, school is either right around the corner or you're welcoming it full force this week! So let's get you feeling prepared to take on another year.Books are a great way to ease your learners back into the swing of things and really set them up for success when going back to school. The books in this episode can help introduce your learners to outdoor education, stewardship, and new perspectives; so let's check them out!Books in this episode 📚Let’s Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans, illustrated by Holly KellerThe Salamander Room by Anne Mazer, illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou FancherWe’re Going on a Nature Hunt by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki SakamotoThe Hike by Alison FarrellMy Forest is Green By Darren Lebeuf, Illustrated by Ashley BarronSky Color by Peter H. ReynoldsDiscovering Nature’s Alphabet By Krystina Castella, Illustrated by Brian BoylWant to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here!(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)Resources mentioned 💚“Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”Ep. 82: 6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning SpacesEp. 81: 5 Strategies for Bringing Nature Into Your Classroom and Learning SpacesShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode83🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

You may already be back in the classroom or you may be getting ready to be in the classroom shortly. What's the first thing on your mind? Your classroom or learning space! What will you decorate with this year? Will there be a theme? All these questions may be causing you to sweat, but don't worry, I'm here to help!Let's help take some of that back-to-school stress away! In this episode, we'll talk about 6 classroom decoration ideas that are backed by research including:Changing your mindset to view decorations as teaching tools.Selecting decorations that have purpose.Using color intentionally.Leaving room for students to contribute.Thinking about how you want students to use the space.Thinking about students’ needs.Resources mentioned 💚Episode 81: 5 Strategies for Bringing Nature Into Your Classroom and Learning SpacesForest Classroom Decor GROWING BundleNaturally Teaching Activity IndexShow Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode82🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching