Lessons for Educators

Are you an educator who wants to take your kids outside, but is unsure where to begin? Have you tried an outdoor lesson, but weren’t satisfied with the results? We’re here for you!

Ideally, we prefer to teach more than one teacher at a time. If you’re interested in these lessons, chat with your colleagues to find someone else who’s interested too! Then send us an email to schedule a visit: education@swibirds.org. As always, our lessons are free for educators. We’re so excited to spread the outdoor ed love.

Getting Started Teaching Outdoors

In this lesson, you will get a great foundation for taking your kids outside for a safe, comfortable, fun time! Topics include:

Preparing to go outside: setting boundaries and expectations, practicing recall, prepping kids so they know what to expect, and tips for actually getting kids dressed and outside!
Traveling as a group: how to safely navigate sidewalks, crossing roads, and setting up your outdoor classroom in a natural area.
Safety: we’ll cover weather to stinging insects and everything in between. Note: this is not a first-aid class.
How to be good visitors in nature: respecting wildlife, leave no trace hiking, staying on trail vs. free exploring, what to touch and what to avoid.
Resources for lesson planning: this will help you get started on your outdoor education journey!

*A beaming child shares her nature treasure with a teacher.*

A Lesson on Lesson planning

You’ll be set for a year of outdoor education success! In this lesson, you’ll learn how to:

*An educator hands one of her students a fishy friend. This lesson is outside, near water, and involved animal encounters: everyone was safe and had a GREAT time learning!*

Build a nature-culture in your classroom: We’ll discuss our favorite methods like sit-spots, gratitude circles, nature journaling, and sharing nature encounters.
Time your lessons with natural events: We’ll discuss how to plan lessons that are anchored in the natural events that happen throughout the year.
Outdoor vs Indoor Ed: You’ll learn how to build lessons that support what you’re doing during your indoor lessons AND get tips on adjusting indoor lessons to be taught outside.
We provide an outline for a year of lessons, and we will discuss how you might adjust them to fit your needs.

Are you interested in learning more about these lessons or getting one on your calendar?

Email us at education@swibirds.org.