Science Lessons to Go

Going outdoors for science class is not only appealing to students but also brings new opportunities for hands-on experience with key science skills. Engage students in a discussion of animals’ basic needs using “Animal Habitat Survey” from Steve Rich’s Outdoor Science: Practical Guide(grades 3’“8); then send the students outside to observe and identify the resources so they can understand habitats and their importance. Students can explore topography in the lesson “Mapping the Schoolyard” from Robert Blake and coauthors’ Inside-Out: Environmental Science in the Classroom and the Field (grades 3’“8). Learning to use and interpret maps is a key skill that connects naturally with the outdoors. Or, take a page from the activities “Camouflage in Nature” and “Nature Walks” from Thomas Lord and Holly Travis’s Schoolyard Science:101 Easy and Inexpensive Activities(grades K’“12) to help students observe and explore while getting physical exercise and learning what scientists do. For even more ideas on taking science classes outdoors, check out these additional NSTA Press resources: Bringing Outdoor Science In: Thrifty Classroom Lessons (K’“8), Buzz Into Action: The Insect Curriculum Guide for Grades K’“4, Hop Into Action: The Amphibian Curriculum Guide for Grades K’“4, and Watershed Investigations: 12 Labs for High School Science (9’“12).