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Hello all,
My name is Megan Melton. I am working on my masters degree in education at Tennessee Tech University. I am currently teaching 6th grade science at a school in Overton County. We have covered a couple units about the environment and how humans impact the environment. I would love to be able to take my classroom outside some during these units. Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas on how to do so? My students would love this and be so engaged.
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Hi Megan! I am an educator too. It is fantastic that you are working on your master's degree in education while actively teaching 6th grade science. Taking your classroom outside is a wonderful idea, especially for environmental units. Consider activities like nature walks to identify local plants and animals, outdoor experiments to test soil and water quality, or even setting up a small garden to explore plant growth and sustainability. Engaging students with hands-on learning in nature not only makes the lessons more memorable but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the environment. Keep up the great work!
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Hi Megan! I just completed a workshop centered around gravel grow cups. The purpose of the experiment was to see if plants can grow in rocks without soil or fertilizer. Cool enough observing the results will blow your students' minds. We planted black beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, and kidney beans in rocks with a wet paper towel base at the bottom of a cup. Within three days I noticed rot activity. Around the 5th or 6th day, the root growth was so active that the roots pushed rocks out of the cups. Leaf formation will make your students feel so accomplished. You could set it up outside in a designated area and add a competitive spirit; lentils versus kidney bean growth. 'My plant rocks more than yours!' Your students will truly enjoy observing how cool plant growth can be!
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Hello Megan,
I am currently going through the Education program at Athens State University. Throughout my career so far, I plan to incorporate a lot of hands-on experiments, which means I will need quite a bit of ideas. I suggest bringing nature into the classroom by creating an outdoor learning space on the school grounds. This could be as simple as setting up a garden where students can plant and tend to vegetables or flowers. They could learn about sustainable gardening practices, composting, and the importance of biodiversity. Another suggestion would be taking the students on nature walks around the school grounds. They could observe different ecosystems, identify native plant and animal species, and learn about environmental conservation efforts in the community. These walks could be supplemented with worksheets or journal prompts encouraging students to reflect on what they have observed and learned.
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Hi Megan!
I am not yet a classroom teacher, but one of my main goals is to incorporate outdoor learning as much as possible. I have had experience working for outdoor school (a 3 day science camp that all 6th graders in Oregon get to participate in) as well as subbing at an environmental charter school, which gave me great ideas for getting kids outside. Any chance you have to collect actual specimens from outside to incorporate in experiments is awesome. For example, collecting soil outside to do experiments on. Nature walks and scavenger hunts to find various types of plants or animals is also a lot of fun for the kids. I also think after an environmental unit, doing a walk to pick up trash, or going to plant trees somewhere could be a great way to apply what they learned in the unit. Hope some of these thoughts give you some ideas!
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Hi, when I taught science in High School we often went outside to take air samples, soil samples, and water samples. First thing is to prepare your students investigate the area have look at their surroundings and write down what they notice. Always give them guidelines to follow. If you are near a park or know a person who is knowledgeable about nature get their help. For over 40 years I have done outdoor adventures and my students enjoyed each encounter. I have taught K to 12, so it can be done at any age level. Have fun.
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Not particularly an idea but perhaps a way to get some ideas... reach out to your state's Dept of Wildlife and see what they offer. I spoke with a guy from AL DWR and he said that they love to have classes for field trips or visit classrooms.
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