Learning Math, Language Arts & Science Through Nature Observation

Recently we posted the great summary that Alison Panik, one of our Teaching for a Positive Future participants, shared in doing the course exercise that invites participants to go out and observe nature. Being a 5th grade teacher and inspired by the experience, Alison immediately started brainstorming ways she could connect her students with the required curriculum while immersing them in experiences with the natural world. We wanted to share just some of her broad ideas:

• Recognizing & naming geometric figures in nature (angles, plane and space figures, etc.)
• Determining Scientific fact through observation (What do you know based on observation?)
• Recognizing patterns (such as the Fibonacci spiral)
• Making predictions and calculating probabilities
• Using computation (sampling in the pond, rates of change over time, etc.)
• Using simile, metaphor and descriptive language
• Exploring nature myths
• Using the inspiration of nature to write from different points of view (1st, 2nd & 3rd person)
• Learning words in other languages related to the natural world
• Finding examples of nature in and out of balance
• Observing systems at work
• Observing pollinators

For another example of combining inquiry with exploration of the natural world, check out Earthly Adventures (pdf), an activity for grades 2-5 created by one of our M.Ed. students.

Image courtesy of Memotions via Creative Commons.

~ Marsha