wonder box

The Wonder Box

he Wonder Box is used to hold a collection of various natural, found objects (shells, leaves, feathers, rocks, twigs, deceased insects, etc.). Students can interact with the objects, inspecting them, using their five senses, drawing/sketching, painting, a picture of the object(s), writing a poem, listing describing words, creating a story, etc.

Recommended grades: PreK-5
Time: 20 minutes and then ongoing

Read more »
Resources: Natural Value

Natural Value

Students reflect on an image that captures the natural beauty and the intrinsic value that nature has in order to consider their own roles in protecting nature and to help nurture their sense of wonder.

Grades: 6 and up
Time: 45 minutes

Read more »
Resources: Mouse vs. Zucchini

Mouse vs. Zucchini

This activity encourages students to discover and think about the perspectives of other people and of nonhuman animals using a brief video featuring a mouse and a zucchini on a kitchen counter.

Recommended grades: K-5
Time: 30 minutes

Read more »
ladybug

Wonder Walk

Participants take turns leading each other on a silent Wonder Walk to discover the natural world with their five senses.

Recommended for all ages
Time: 30 minutes

Read more »
solutionary

Five Ways to Nourish Your Soul and Make a Difference

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! We tend to protect and care for who and what we love. Ask any parent if they would be willing to sacrifice themselves to save their child, and they’ll likely answer yes. I had the…

Read more »
last child in the woods

Children & Nature Network

Co-founded by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, the Children & Nature Network seeks to reconnect children with the natural world. The website offers ideas, resources, tools, and several initiatives to help children, families, schools, and communities connect with nature and renew their love and wonder for the environment. Initiatives and resources…

Read more »
school garden

8 Resources for Greening Your Schoolyard

by Marsha Rakestraw You only have to watch kids in a garden or park to know that we humans have a special connection with the natural world. Studies have shown that we benefit physically, emotionally, and mentally (including academically) from our interactions with nature. Yet except for a hemmed-in tree here or there, or a…

Read more »
beauty in nature

10 Reasons to Take Your Students Outside (& the Research to Back It Up)

A lot of teachers want to offer their students experiences in the natural world, but because of strictures on curriculum, the prevalence of standardized tests, and other challenges, encounters with nature can fall into the category of “nice but not necessary.” But we know from a plethora of research that we humans desperately need that…

Read more »
children & nature

Why We Need Humane Education: Study Shows Children Don’t Get Outside Playtime

Research has repeatedly shown that we need regular exposure to the natural world. We’re happier and healthier when we’re connected to the natural world. Studies also show improved cognitive function and stress management and lower obesity levels in children who get time outside. But according to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics…

Read more »