Never Enough Nature! TK in the Wild

What was tried in the classroom?

Lisa Monroe’s class on expanding learning environments has really helped me pursue more science-based learning in my TK classroom. More than anything else, I have increased the time my class is exploring outdoors.

On St. Patrick’s Day, our math lesson was counting clover leaves. When we saw a clip about worms on Wild Kratts, we went directly outside to see if we could find any squigglers in the wild and ID the “bandaid part” that is the worm’s “head.”

How’d it go?

Conversations about taking care of nature, the way our bodies respond to time outside, and overall mood is way up! I wish this class had been another four weeks long!

ClimeTime Training

Beyond Classroom Walls: Cultivating Students’ Sense of Wonder and Respect in the Outdoors with Lisa Monroe

Classroom

School: Cedar River Elementary School
District: Tahoma School District
Teacher: Holly Wood

Making a Birds Nest From Items on the Playground

May 30, 2025 | PSESD Classroom

What was tried in the classroom? Part of our science learning was an inquiry about why do birds lay their eggs in the spring. Students shared talked with each other and shared their ideas as to why. Then we talked about what they use to build their nests. I had them...

Preschool Nature Walk

Mar 26, 2025 | PSESD Classroom

What was tried in the classroom? I took my class for a nature walk outside on our playground. We talked about what we saw. We saw lots of leaves, bugs, sticks, and rocks (their favorite!). When we finished our nature walk, we used chalk to draw what we saw on the...

Nature-based learning in transitional kindergarten

Nov 5, 2024 | PSESD Classroom

What was tried in the classroom? In our transitional kindergarten classroom, nature-based learning is woven into every aspect of our day. We explore our five senses during nature hikes, encouraging students to engage with the world around them in a hands-on way. For...

ClimeTime in the Classroom