4 strategies that bring the power of nature to your classroom

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I live in the state of Michigan, which means that a large portion of the year is dominated by cold, dreary weather. I have noticed that my students tend to lack energy during these months. There is a kind of general lethargy that spreads throughout the classroom and makes it difficult for them to participate in lessons. Then, on the first sunny day of spring, everything changes. All that latent energy suddenly explodes, and my previously sleepy students are now bouncing off the classroom walls with unbridled excitement.

I found this experience quite revealing. Despite the increasing urbanization of our society, humans are still deeply linked to the cycles of nature. As such, I believe the solution to curbing our students' excess energy lies in reconnecting them with the outdoors.

This may seem daunting, especially if you live in a city where green spaces are few and far between. However, I have come up with four simple ways to incorporate nature into existing science lessons that encourage students' curiosity and creativity.

Here are four strategies that will bring the power of nature into your classroom:

1. Use outdoor environments: Taking students outdoors doesn't necessarily mean taking them to a forest. A zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and even a local park can be a source of nature that can help students gain a new perspective on the world. These spaces allow students to experience different plants and animals, which can be leveraged into existing science lessons. For example, a local garden could serve as an ideal setting for a lesson on pollination and pollinators, while an aquarium could be used to teach students about different marine ecosystems and how animals adapt to survive in their environment.
2. Bringing nature INTO THE CLASSROOM: It is raining outside? Or are there other reasons why it's just not feasible to go out? It's right! Bring nature to your students inside the classroom by establishing an indoor nature center that features specimens, artifacts, and models that represent local flora and fauna. This can be a great way to teach students about the unique species native to your state, and by encouraging them to bring their own specimens, you'll get them invested in their own learning.
3. Take a virtual tour: Virtual resources became popular during the 2020 pandemic, and many offer students the opportunity to explore wild environments from the safety of their classroom. Take advantage of wildlife cameras that show African waterholes or lush tropical forests. Have students take notes about what they observe, as well as how different animals interact with each other. These tools also create great background content for classroom transitions, work time, or brain breaks!
4. Use project-based learning: Through project-based learning (PBL), students work on practical, real-world projects that are relevant and interesting to them, fostering a deeper connection to the subject. For example, the Blue Apple project, Sustainability status, Task students with designing a book about their state that informs readers about how small changes can build a more sustainable world. It's an hands-on lesson that shows students that they can make a real difference in their community!

Incorporating nature into science lessons not only enriches students' learning experience but also fosters a meaningful connection with the environment. This spring, take your students out into the wild green and show them how interconnected this world of ours really is. Then take a step back and let your curiosity and creativity do the rest!