How to do a sit spot

Carolyn tells kids what a sit spot is and then models how to do one (4:41).

Ideas for classrooms: build this into your weekly routine. Have kids do a sit spot outside (or looking out a window). Give them a new prompt: focus on senses, think about man-made or nature-made sounds, look for signs of seasons changing. Then discuss as a class, nature journal about it, or create your own check-out assignment/activity.

Guided Sit Spot: Mind & Body check-in

Carolyn leads kids through a sit spot focused on checking-in on how your mind and body are feeling. This activity teaches kids to think about how they are feeling AND it gives them tools to help reset if they’re feeling stressed.

Ideas for classrooms: Use this as a part of your rotating weekly routine. Pair this with a journaling activity. Have kids report back to the teacher or to each other so that we can ALL check in on each other. It’s important!

Carolyn introduces the word “habitat”, reads Over and Under the Pond, and leads kids in a short journaling exercies (book reading ends at 9:24 and journaling is 8 minutes long).

Ideas for classrooms: have kids watch the whole video & do guided nature journaling OR have them stop after the book is done to do your own activity. Discuss as a group, send kids to look at the habitat near their home. Can they find any of the animals from this book (likely birds & bugs)? Make a scavenger hunt including animals/plants in the book, and have kids mark off what they can find as they watch the video.

Follow Ada Twist in her quest to be a scientist: she asks questions, does experiments and makes hypotheses! Carolyn reads Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (video is 10:11 minutes long)

Ideas for classrooms: Use this book to emphasize the importance of asking questions. After watching, send kids outside to “wonder”. Have them write or draw about their questions in their nature journal or share with the class on virtual platforms.

Observation Practice

Learn what making observations is all about! Carolyn starts by making her own observations of the painted turtle shell, then walks kids through observing the bobcat skull (6:34 minutes).

Ideas for classrooms: Pair with an outdoor explore! Have kids go find their own nature object or animal to observe. Kids can write or draw about their observations, or share them with a classmate.

What is Phenology?

Explore the fall woods with Milcah, our education intern. She’ll teach you about the word “phenology” and share some cool seasonal changes you can look for. Then, go out on a hike to see what you can find! Great for older elementary or middle school kids (6:58 minutes).

Ideas for classrooms: Pair with an outdoor explore! Have kids go look for plants or animals that are changing along with the seasons. Bring a nature journal to have kids write or draw about what they find.

All about. . . .

Chipmunks!

Learn all about chipmunks in this quick video! You’ll learn how to identify them, what they eat, where they live, and how they spend their winter. Can you be the first to spot a chipmunk this spring?

Ideas for classrooms: Pair with lessons about how other animals spend winter. Connect with a phenology lesson and have kids try to be the first to spot a chipmunk on a warmer winter day or when spring arrives.