Outdoor Classrooms: Teacher resources

What is an outdoor classroom? | Benefits of learning | Grants & funding | Examples | Teacher resources | Helpful links

• PLT's GreenSchools
  PLT’s GreenSchools! program, in partnership with the US Forest Service, and the Corporation for National and Community Service, provides a blueprint for educators, students, environmental and health advocates, school board members, parents and interested community members to teach, learn, and engage together in creating a more green and healthy learning environment at their school.  It combines environmental education, service learning, and  leadership opportunities for students to help turn their school into a model green school.

• Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program
  This program recognizes the wonderful efforts of many Virginia schools to increase the environmental awareness and stewardship of our youngest citizens.

• Beginning reading list on children and nature
  A sampling of books to provide background reading for teachers and parents.

• Wolftrap Elementary School
  Growing Together Gardens

• Outdoor Classroom Scavenger Hunt and Journaling Activity

• Butterfly Garden Teachers’ Guide, Hyla Brook Farm
  
• Marl Creek Environmental Education Activities
  The Marl Creek Trail Interpretive site www.teacherbridge.org/public/projects/forested/marlcreek/Home  has resources and supplies for many environmental education activities. These activities are geared toward 4th graders but can be adapted to meet your needs. The trail's interpretative signs have key terms highlighted that correspond to 4th grade SOL's. There are general activity boxes with materials to enhance or help you plan your lesson. There are also game boxes with all the equipment and instructions necessary to introduce environmental topics through fun-filled, action-packed games. Plan your own day or have a planned program day coordinated by Sandy Greene, Environmental Education Coordinator, Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District. www.teacherbridge.org/public/projects/forested/marlcreek/Activities
  

• Augusta Springs Wetlands
  Welcome to Augusta Springs! We are an electronic commons created for volunteers and visitors to Augusta Springs, a popular U.S. Forest Service wetlands and conservation education center on the North River Ranger District, George Washington National Forest. The purpose of this site is to help students of all ages learn about the role that forests, particularly the National Forests, play in protecting and enhancing our most precious resource- clean water.

  • Wetland Plants
  • Wetland Animals
    
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Schoolyard Habitat Assistance Program
  Do you want to create a vibrant schoolyard full of educational opportunities for your students? Do you want to create colorful and fragrant garden space, attract wildlife habitat, and create an interactive outdoor classroom? Do you want to engage the surrounding community in your habitat projects?
  
• WILD School Sites, DGIF
  Project WILD is a national Kindergarten through 12th grade wildlife education program correlated to the Virginia Science Standards of Learning.  Two Activity Guides, an Introductory Guide and an Aquatic Guide, provide educators with the information needed to teach wildlife conservation and the importance of habitat.
  
• Lessons from the Bay, DOE
  The purpose of Lessons from the Bay is to help Virginia school teachers of grades 3 through 6 incorporate into their classrooms a variety of activities and projects related to protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed, in keeping with the state's commitment in the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
  
• Water Education Resource Guide, Longwood College
  Information and activities for teachers to support interdisciplinary and problem-based teaching about watersheds, water quality, stewardship, and management issues. Correlated to Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL). Supports the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement's goal to "provide a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed before graduation from high school."
  
• Schoolyard Habitat, USFW
  The Schoolyard Habitat program helps teachers and students create wildlife habitat on school grounds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides and coordinates with other agencies to give technical assistance and project guidance; provides teacher training; develops written resources; and works with the state Departments of Education on incorporating habitat issues into new school construction and renovation projects.