Incorporating nature-based education into your teaching doesn’t mean starting from scratch. In fact, some of the most effective nature-based lessons begin by simply building on what you’re already doing. This was clearly demonstrated during the Four Winds Nature Institute’s “Add Nature to Your Curriculum” professional development workshop in Strafford County, New Hampshire.
Over two collaborative sessions, educators around the seacoast of NH came together to reimagine existing lessons through a nature-based lens. On the first day, teachers selected a unit they already use and worked with peers to explore how it could be enhanced with nature-based opportunities and connections to the natural world. For example, one group explored how to teach double-digit addition to first graders using natural materials. Instead of traditional base ten blocks, students could use sticks to represent tens and acorns for ones—bringing math to life through hands-on, nature-based learning.
After the school year wrapped up, participants returned to share and reflect on the nature-infused lessons they had developed. This second session was a rejuvenating experience—educators engaged in hands-on activities created by their colleagues, offered feedback, and discussed ways to adapt lessons across different grade levels. Together, they engaged with their senses as they searched for seed pods, measured with nonstandard units, and investigated animal habitats—immersing themselves in the same kinds of exploratory learning they aim to foster in their students.
This approach shows that bringing teaching outdoors doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By collaborating and starting with familiar material, educators can take meaningful steps toward nature-based, inquiry-driven learning—one lesson at a time.
