What can we learn from the trees?

significant value in letting nature be our educator. Whenever I would take my students outside, new questions, observations and connections would arise. This led me to be flexible in my lessons and let the students’ inquiries shape our learning. Trees have always been a subject of interest for me, so when I noticed my class sharing the same passion, I knew that I had to act on it. It was time to center ourselves around the significance of the trees and the stories they have to tell. My class and I journeyed outside most days with the sole purpose to learn and develop a deeper meaning of the natural world. Thus, we became tree detectives, seeking to answer an essential question: What can I learn from the trees? Continue reading What can we learn from the trees?

A teenager sits in a park with a mask on and holding an iPad

Let the Data Speak for Itself

This post was written by educator Lauren Niemann. I teach in Louisville, KY, which has one of the fastest growing urban heat island effects in the country, and this environmental impact does not impact our residents equally. Due to the inequities around us, I believe it is important to give students the opportunity to evaluate data and personal accounts from residents and uncover patterns of … Continue reading Let the Data Speak for Itself

Educator Spotlight: Expanding Perspectives through Outdoor Exploration and Social Media

Sharon Davison emphasizes the importance of spending time in nature. For her National Geographic Educator Certification capstone project, her kindergarten students went on a nature walk, made observations, wrote in journals, and then communicated their findings to people around the world using social media platforms. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Expanding Perspectives through Outdoor Exploration and Social Media

First Trees on Earth Ripped Themselves Apart to Grow

SCIENCE Researchers do not know why trees from more than 300 million years ago have more complex structures than trees today. (Independent) How else have trees adapted? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Scientists are surprised at the growth pattern of ancient trees. What 300-million-year-old tree species was studied? The new study examined Cladoxylopsida, extinct … Continue reading First Trees on Earth Ripped Themselves Apart to Grow