Outdoor Inquiries offers approaches to help students become skilled at asking their own questions, gathering their own data and analyzing it for themselves-to become real inquirers. We recommend it to all of our teachers. -Lynn Rankin Director, Institute for Inquiry, Exploratorium The book is a great treasure for all science educators. -Hubert Dyasi City College of New York Here'ssome advice for teachers looking for science instruction to supplement their science textbooks and kits: Take it outside! Conducting science investigations beyond the four walls of the classroom is one of the best ways for young people to develop scientific thinking and to practice gathering and analyzing their own data. Outdoor Inquiries is the clear, concise handbook that shows you how. Outdoor Inquiries takes you step by step through guiding intermediate and middle level students to new and deeper understandings of scientific content, thinking, and procedures. From smart, pragmatic advice-including how to select an appropriate site for investigation, what to bring with you, and how to ensure student safety-to powerful, detailed lesson plans, suggestions for cross-curricular integration, and useful ideas for assessment, Outdoor Inquiries offers everything you need to get started. It outlines five interrelated strategies to use with students as they investigate their local environment: journal keeping mapping collection making field-guide development behavior study. In addition, detailed classroom vignettes from a variety of settings demonstrate how each inquiry strategy helps your students meet several recommendations of the National Science Education Standards by engaging them in: close observation long-term data gathering the generation of thoughtful questions data analysis. Step outside the usual kit-based science instruction. Nurture the inquiries of your science learners by helping them apply critical thinking skills to the real world as they make meaningful connections to their natural, dynamic local environment. Use Outdoor Inquiries and discover that when it comes to teaching science, the natural world can be your most effective instructional tool.

Jack the cat gets much more than he bargained for when he decides to build the perfect nest to attract the perfect chicken, who will lay the perfect egg, which will make the perfect omelet.

Research shows that environment-centered education improves student achievement. Whatever your school's setting-urban, suburban, or rural-you can create stimulating outdoor classrooms for your students, with a little help from Outdoor Science. Author and state science specialist Steve Rich shows teachers how to create outdoor learning spaces that can be used from year to year-with little extra effort or resources. These practical suggestions for creating, maintaining, and using outdoor classrooms work for both elementary and middle school students. The simple and inexpensive lessons satisf.

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows. With illustrations made from actual fall leaves and die-cut pages on every spread that reveal gorgeous landscape vistas, here is a playful, whimsical, and evocative book that celebrates the natural world and the rich imaginative life of children. Includes an author's note and leaf-identifying labels.

One of the keys to a happy and creative classroom is getting out of it and this book will give you the confidence to do just that. Drawing on academic research, Juliet explains why learning outdoors is so beneficial and provides plenty of tips and activities to help you to integrate outdoor learning into your teaching practice, providing a broad range of engaging outdoor experiences for your students. There is no need for expensive tools or complicated technologies: all you need is your coat and a passion for learning - oh, and you'd better bring the kids too! Topics covered include: forest schools, learning outside the classroom, outdoor education, nature activities, caring for the environment, play in schools, investigative play, urban outdoor activities, problem solving, creative thinking and strategies for supporting curriculum objectives. For all primary practitioners who want to shake up their usual classroom routine and discover the benefits of teaching outdoors. Dirty Teaching was a finalist in the Non-Fiction People's Book Prize Winter 2014 collection.