Using the Outdoors as a Teaching Resource
A growing body of research points to the importance of outdoor time for students during the school day. Is there a group of K-6 educators in your district interested in venturing outside for an initial 3-hr session that focuses on using outdoor spaces as a teaching resource for any subject. This initial introduction will set the stage, then, for a teacher-led Professional Learning Community (PLC) to support getting all children outdoors. Four Winds staff will provide 2 hours of coaching, relevant readings, and resources for the teacher-led PLC. Contact info@fwni.org for more information about these workshops!
Place-Based, Science Education Curriculum Development: Linkages for Environmental Learning (UVLEL)
Linkages supports Upper Valley K-12 teachers in curriculum development and implementation by connecting them to a vast network of environmental educators, scientists, and researchers who serve as content specialists. Participants submit a one-page application outlining the place-based science instructional unit they are interested in working on and how it supports their required curriculum. Four Winds, then, connects them with local resources to enrich student learning. Participants meet four times through the year to share successes and engage in professional development. Our Linkages teachers will be working together to support each other and other Upper Valley NH/VT educators wanting to get students outside regularly to learn and explore.
In this collaborative learning community, participants engage in inquiry, research, and reflection. The work is current, local, and relevant to both teachers and students. Linkages helps prepare the next generation of environmental citizens. Linkages is generously funded by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. For more information and to apply for 2023-24, contact info@fwni.org.