Hi all,
I have been researching virtual learning programs and envisioning a class project that would focus on ways to strengthen programs for students without adult support at home and/or ways to build in parent education/training to programs. However, I just completed a reflective essay for my certificate in Education for Global Sustainability and it got me thinking about some of the other work I've done during the course of the Master's Program that has been really meaningful to me. I noticed a thread throughout my courses and work that I've done and I'm changing direction now to pull on that thread a bit more. Watch the video from Richard Louv below to get a sense of my new focus:
Through all the work I've done on education for sustainability, it has become clear to me that the best way to make kids passionate about sustainability is to expose them to a lot of time outside. Kids who are outside become little naturalists, eager to observe, explore, and protect the world around them. Little naturalists grow up to be conscientious adults working towards sustainability. I've done some work previously developing activities and curriculum units that develop naturalist skills in children but I'd like to take it a bit farther.
I want to work on finding ways to work these activities and this curriculum into the teaching work I do so that being outside is part of our classroom identity and culture. I don't want to just practice sketching or observe a bird cam for a week, I want being outside to be something we do regularly. I want to find ways to incorporate it into all the other curriculum I am responsible for and I suspect this will be my biggest challenge. I know how to guide children to become naturalists but I don't know how to squeeze that into my packed days full of state mandated standards. It is encouraging to hear things like Louv said in the video that simply being outside is beneficial for children. I'm thinking now about having reading or writing time happen outside. Science lends itself easily to being outside. I believe this will be my focus moving forward.
I found an article and video about a school in Atlanta that was inspired by Richard Louv's book "Last Child in the Woods," which discusses the issues caused by American schools failing to get kids outside enough. The video in the article below gives a sense of what I am wanting to incorporate into my teaching.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-chattahoochee-hills-charter-school-focuses-learning-outdoors/
If anyone has any thoughts on how to begin incorporating this into a packed 1st or 2nd grade schedule, I'm ready to listen!