From the November 2021 Newsletter: Fall in Madison brings blue skies, golden leaves, and now, smiling eyes. We’re back to teaching in person again!
Bird Names for Birds
Birds are awesome. They come in all different shapes, sizes, sounds, colors, and habitats. Some are bold and loud, some are elusive and quiet. Some perform, build dozens of nests, or sing beautiful melodies to attract a mate. Some eat fish, others seed, others insects, others nectar. Some are striped, some speckled, some solid colors. Some migrate, some overwinter. Birds are AMAZING.
Some of the people they’re named for, however, are not amazing. These people lived lives that do not uphold the morals and standards the bird community should memorialize. Birds should have bird names, and these honorifics should be changed. Instead of naming a bird after a person, why not give birds names that describe the bird?
Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar
Teaching Outside: Adapting to Online Learning
We’ve reached the middle of August, and for many, the back-to-school jitters are settling in. This year we are all facing change, challenges, and opportunity when it comes to heading back to school—it is both daunting and exciting! This post is going to focus on how to incorporate outdoor learning as many are starting the school year at least partially online. It is an important piece to consider as we focus on connecting with our students and promoting their social and emotional well-being.
Spending time outside is important to the health of our country’s youth. Students are not necessarily going to have a structured recess time as this school year begins, and that may have been some students' only consistent time outside.
How can we promote healthy outdoor habits among our students? Let’s jump in.
Madison Audubon photo
Teaching Outside: Outdoor Routines
In our last blog post, we discussed some tips for getting ready to take your students and lessons outside this coming school year. Now it’s time to think about the importance of creating routines for your students in your outdoor classroom, and we will leave you with some of our favorite ideas for routine-building activities.
Establishing outdoor routines with your students can help them engage in the natural world and provide structure for outdoor lessons. Providing consistent structure helps ease the transition out of and back into your indoor environment. Students will know what to expect from their time outside, and they will learn how to guide themselves from one activity to the next.
We will also include some ideas for transferring these routines to an online learning format as many schools are starting the school year virtually. Nature is a great way to connect with kids even when you cannot all be outside together, and you can set up outdoor learning routines for your students to do as they are able off-screen and at their own homes.
Madison Audubon photo
Getting Ready to Teach Outdoors
There are a wide-range of benefits to teaching outside, and we are here to help you prepare your students and yourself for the learning that awaits in your natural environment.
The biological realities of living with COVID-19 is pushing our society to rethink and redesign the spaces we inhabit. Practicing outdoor learning can be one resource to draw upon as we change our education system to rely on safe social practices.
Here are some ideas for everyone, in all areas of the education system, to think about before you venture outside with your students.
