Naturally Teaching Elementary: A Podcast for Teachers and Homeschool Families – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Winter is the perfect season to explore the water cycle with your learners since freezing temperatures give way to some lesser seen steps in the process. In winter, water can naturally be found in all three states, providing experiences that are unattainable the rest of the year.

In this episode I cover 11 children’s water cycle books that introduce the water cycle, where water can be found, and that it comes in different states. Press play to hear about "Water is Water" by Miranda Paul, "Once Upon a Raindrop" by James Carter, "From River to Raindrop: The Water Cycle" by Emma Carlson Berne, "Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse" by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, and more.

Books in this episode 📚

1. The Drop Goes Plop: A First Look at the Water Cycle by Sam Godwin
2. Water is Water by Miranda Paul
3. Water Dance by Thomas Locker
4. Drop: An Adventure Through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon
5. Once Upon a Raindrop by James Carter
6. When Cloud Became a Cloud by Rob Hodgson
7. The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure by Kay Barnham
8. From River to Raindrop: The Water Cycle by Emma Carlson Berne
9. Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
10. The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story by Neil Waldman
11. Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)

Resources mentioned 💚

1. “How Maple Syrup Season Can Help You Teach Elementary Students”
2. “Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”
3. Maple Syrup and Water Cycle Mini Unit for 2nd Grade
4. Tapping Into Learning: 15 Maple Syrup Books for Elementary Science
5. “The Great Backyard Bird Count: How to Take Part for Elementary Teachers”

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode39

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Winter temperatures may not be everyone's favorite, but those temperatures provide the opportunity for learning about water in a rich and engaging way. The winter season gives your learners the chance to experience water in its three states, sometimes even on the same day!

Tune in to hear descriptions for 6 activities for learning about water that are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-5. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to water, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners.

And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level.

Activities described in this episode include:

• Kindergarten: Measuring snow depths
• 1st Grade: Using icicles to block light
• 2nd Grade: Going for a states of water hike
• 3rd Grade: Engineering a solution for snow removal
• 4th Grade: Taking crack rubbings to investigate erosion
• 5th Grade: Investigating dirt in melted snow

Resources mentioned 💚

• Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching Outside
• Snow and Winter Weather Mini Unit for Kindergarten
• 35. 6 Groundhog’s Day Activities for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Groups
• 36. Gamifying Learning for Elementary-Aged Children with Allie Elliott
• Snowy Science: A Guide to Teaching About Matter in Winter

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode38

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Hibernation in animals is a much talked about topic in elementary science, but it’s misunderstood. Listen in to hear about hibernation and the different forms of animal dormancy including torpor, brumation, and diapause.

After covering the basics of animal dormancy, we’ll talk through 6 different activities inspired by sleeping animals for grades K-5. I share the Next Generation Science Standard that inspired the activity, how the activity connects to animal dormancy, and how to use the activity with your class or homeschool group.

Press play to hear about:

• Role playing animals looking for their needs in preparation for winter (Kindergarten)
• Using a movement cube to experience ways animals prepare for their winter sleep (1st Grade)
• Completing a chipmunk inspired relay race (2nd Grade)
• Creating models of insects entering diapause in different life stages (3rd Grade)
• Developing centers to match animals with their internal structures that support survival by sleeping through the winter (4th Grade)
• Collecting data of sunrise and sunset time along with animal sightings to determine how hours of daylight affect animal dormancy (5th Grade)

Resources mentioned 💚

• Hibernation Preparation Movement Cube for 1st Grade
• Suny College ESF - Woodchuck
• Small reusable shopping bags
• "Not a Buzz to Be Found" by Linda Glaser

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode29

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Did you know that you already have all the tools that you need to take your teaching outside? All the skills that you use to teach inside will transfer swimmingly outside and will serve you and your students well.

However, if you're looking for some equipment and props to help make that transition easier, make sure to take a listen to this episode. I cover tried and true equipment that I used most days that I taught outside during elementary school science lessons.

Listen in to hear about: Poker chips, Ropes, Cones, Poly spots, Bug boxes, Butterfly pavilions, and Field guides

(Follow the links for examples of equipment that could be helpful with your outdoor education efforts).

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode28

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If you're looking to get involved in the citizen science project the Great Backyard Bird Count with your students but you don't know where to start, then this is the episode for you! There are two ways to participate in the count; you can either count birds while you walk outside or you can count birds while watching bird feeders.

This episode is here to help you set up a bird feeding station so you and your students can collect data from inside or outside your school. Martha Holzheuer is on the show to describe:

• Where to place your feeders
• What types of feeders and feed are best for bird diversity
• If you should include a heated bird bath or not
• How long it takes for birds to find new bird feeders
• And how to use native plants to enhance your bird feeding station

Make sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode because today's Teaching Tip is about ideas for acquiring the materials to put together a bird feeding station.

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode27

Connect with Martha Holzheuer:

• Email Martha: naturenichemi@gmail.com
• Website: www.nature-niche.com
• Store phone number: 1-989-423-1477
• Store address: 2004 W. Wackerly St, Midland, Mi 48640

Resources mentioned 💚

• Nature Niche: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCduEqQ3WMv8bnlKU8xwIl2g/videos 
• Visit https://naturallyteaching.com/episode27 for more specific Mondays with Martha
• Bird Feeding Stations: How to Design the Perfect Backyard Habitat
• Martha's Midland Songbird Seed Mix
• Seed Cylinder Feeders
• Pole Kits
• Heated Bird Baths
• For the Birds! WCMU Public Media
• Bird Feeder Tactics: An Education Partner Grant
• The Great Backyard Bird Count - Citizen Science Projects for 5th Graders
• The Great Backyard Bird Count: How to Take Part for Elementary Teachers

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Winter break is right around the corner! And even though Thanksgiving is still on the horizon, your winter party is creeping up faster than you want to admit.

If you're looking for a way to be more inclusive with your party theme and activities this year, consider celebrating the winter solstice instead of Christmas or Hanukkah. The winter solstice is a worldwide phenomenon that everyone has in common, making it a great theme for all.

Nature has a lot to offer your winter solstice celebration including open space, natural decorations, and the ability to tolerate loud noises, so consider taking your party outside! In this episode, I describe outdoor winter games, low key activities, party food, and communication with parents and administration to make your party as successful as possible.

Resources Mentioned 💚

• How Do You Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Elementary Students?
• A Helpful Guide to Teaching the Season Transition to Winter
• Episode 17: 6 Fun Fall Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science Standards
• 16 Wonderful Children’s Books About Winter for Elementary Teachers
• 5 Senses of Winter Scavenger Hunts
• Bird Feeder Garland - RHS Campaign for School Gardening

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode26

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With Thanksgiving on the horizon, you know the pre-holiday energy is on its way. It may not be on the same level as winter break energy, but it's still energy on a whole other level from the regular 5-day-week energy.

In this episode, I'm bringing you 4 different books with activities to celebrate turkeys the week leading up to Thanksgiving break. When the energy is high, getting your students outside can help harness said energy in productive ways and these books and activities will do just that.

Books in this episode 📚

1. Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
2. How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
3. I’m a Turkey by Jim Arnosky
4. How to Hide a Turkey by Hope Aicher

(Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you)

Resources mentioned 💚

1. Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching in Nature
2. Turkey Needs Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
3. Talking About Turkey Facts: 10 Things to Know Before Thanksgiving

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode25

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It's the last little bit of October, a month associated with spookiness and darkness. And in this darkness, we can look to the moon to help us reach our curricular goals. Although it sounds like a limited subject, the phases of the moon can actually help us teach physics, life science, Earth science, and space science!

In this episode, I share a moon phase activity for each grade, K-5, paired with a Next Generation Science Standard and an explanation of how it relates to the phases of the moon. Tune in to hear about:

• Collecting weather data and phases of the moon (Kindergarten)
• Keeping a moon journal (1st Grade)
• Playing moon phase tidal tug of war (2nd Grade)
• Completing a blindfolded migration obstacle course (3rd Grade)
• Creating a moon phase mobile model (4th Grade)
• Playing predator prey moonlit tag (5th Grade)

Resources mentioned 💚

• How Does the Moon Affect the Tides and Weather?
• Episode 113: Roots of Learning: Nature in Elementary Science Education
• Moon Phases and Light Mini Unit for 1st Grade
• 12 Stellar Books About the Moon, Sun, and Eclipses
• Tides and Water Levels

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode24

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If planning a field trip is stressful for you, this episode could be just what you need to hear! James Dake, Education Director of Grass River Natural Area, is on the show today to talk about field trips and he shares his unique perspective as a certified teacher with classroom experience who now writes, organizes, and implements nature field trips for children of all ages.

Click play if you're interested in hearing about the benefits of field trips for students, types of activities to look for when booking a field trip for your students, 3 things to look for in field trips to ensure a quality experience, and advice to make your experience as the teacher less stressful and more enjoyable.

Make sure to listen until the end because today's Teaching Tip is about getting funding for your field trip through nature grants.

Connect with James Dake:

• Email: james@grassriver.org
• www.grassriver.org

Resources mentioned 💚

• https://www.michigannature.org/menus/education.html

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode23

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If you’ve decided to take your students outside for learning but you’re not sure where to start lesson planning, this is the episode for you! There are a variety of children’s outdoor activities and games to enhance your science studies, and I cover 9 of them in this episode.

Tune in for descriptions and examples of:

• Group meetings or whole group meetings
• Guided hikes or walks
• Trail or sidewalk activities
• Exploration
• Data collection
• Observational studies
• Running games
• Role playing games
• Concept reinforcement games

Make sure to stick around until the end of the show where I give you ideas of how to get your hands on study skins, or taxidermied animals, to bring your students’ learning to life!

 Resources mentioned 💚

• Episode 3: Teaching with Books: Thinking Outside the Box with Steve Frisbee
• Episode 15: 6 Citizen Science Projects for Elementary Students and Teachers
• Episode 20: 6 Animal Migration Activities for the Elementary Classroom
• Episode 17: 6 Fun Fall Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science Standards
• Episode 4: 6 Invasive Species Activities to Use in the Elementary Classroom
• Naturally Teaching scavenger hunts
• Seasonal Senses Scavenger Hunts for Fall, Winter, and Spring
• Outdoor Pollination Scavenger Hunt
• Living and Non LivingScavenger Hunt
• Worm Weather Picture Book Companion
• Borrow CMU Zoology Specimen
• Acorn Naturalists

Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode22

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