The Outdoor Classroom
Get outside and explore!
Not only is sun exposure super important for a diverse microbiome and strong immunity, the mood-boosting benefits of sunshine and ‘me time’ work wonders on our soul. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of our outside world: the more diverse the ecosystem, the more it thrives.
Let’s embrace the wonders of nature and biodiversity – we are all part of a complex ecosystem.
Rocks: Nature’s Storytellers
Rock Hunting & Pet Rocks: As a kid, I loved smashing rocks open to reveal the magic inside and spying on the critters living underneath. Every stone holds a secret story that bears witness to the earth’s past. Explore the rocks in your community - rock hunting doesn’t have to be fancy - just connect and have fun searching.
Rock Painting: Therapeutic, fun, and kids get really into it! Painted rocks make a great gift - a paperweight, a vibrant stone for your garden, a token of positivity to lift a friend in need. Good vibes spread.
River/Beach Glass Hunting: “One man’s treasure is another man’s gold”. Discarded medicine and perfume bottles, tossed into our oceans as trash, wash up onto the banks of the Hudson River, waiting to be discovered. These hidden gems range in color: bright reds and oranges are the rarest; green, brown and white are the most common. The more rare and diverse the colors, the more successful the hunt!
Planting & Gardening
Disclaimer! I do NOT have a green thumb. Truth be told…I’ve conducted growth rate studies with Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches in my classroom for over a decade. I was lucky to keep roaches alive and thriving….
Community garden projects add a touch of color while feeding both rural and urban communities. Working collaboratively on a green space initiative promotes trust, cooperation, and innovation amongst community members. Gardening is good for the soul!
School garden projects. With the community’s support, students from our school planted seeds at the start of the year. By the end of the year, they harvested various lettuce and herbs to make their own salad pizza for school lunch.—student-driven experiences like these foster deeper connections between students, teachers, parents and the community.
Sun Safety Activity: “An ounce of prevention equals a ton of cure.”
The Science: Teach your kids the importance of sun safety all year round through this simple investigation! My middle schoolers are always surprised to observe how these beads turn color/detect “UV” even in cold winter months.
Materials: UV detecting beads (cheap on Amazon), SPF, pipe cleaners
What to do:
Place several beads on a pipe cleaner to make a bracelet
Have your child wear it throughout the day and jot down color changes (the bolder the color, the stronger presence of UV)
Test varying strengths of SPFs on the beads, then compare to beads without SPF
Use the data to talk about skin health and protecting our bodies from UV rays.
Explore More! Visit the EPA to learn about sun safety and the UV index
