Back to School with Nature

This year, as you are preparing your classroom, try to incorporate nature into the overall design and layout of your room. There are many ways that you can create a nature-themed classroom.

Background 

  • Find the crossover in your curriculum and nature! Review your benchmarks and objectives for ideas. Here are examples!
    • If the standard says, “count to 10,” then go outside and have your students search for 10 sticks in the school yard.
    • If the standard says, “retell a story,” then have circle time outside and read a book to your children. Have them act out the story in small groups.
    • If the standard says, “compare weight and length of various objects,” then have your students find three sticks or three leaves and line them up smallest to largest. Students could find three rocks and decide which is the lightest and heaviest.
    • If the standard says, “to read and spell words” with a certain sound combination, have students write these words in the sand / dirt or “paint” them on concrete with water.
  • Combine outdoor time with other activities
    • Can parts of your time together be modified to be done outside? How can you modify your sharing time, math, story time, even snack time?

Read this research study – Time spent outdoors during preschool: Links with children’s cognitive and behavioral development. (Link from NAAEE)

Ulset, V., Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., Bekkus, M., & Borge, A.I.H. (2017). Time spent outdoors during preschool: Links with children’s cognitive and behavioral development. Journal of Environmental Psychology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.05.007

Classroom Design

While doing your year-ahead planning, be sure to consider adding a nature-theme to all or part of your classroom. Your theme could match the season or some other activity or event that usually happens.

Be sure to add living things to your classroom! Have your children help you take care of plants, the fish tank, set up a worm composting station for appropriate leftovers. Work on your outside space to accommodate bird feeders that the children can see from the classroom window.

Centers

One center in your classroom could be the designated spot for natural objects – a chance for you and your students to bring nature inside. Lead by example and start off the center with found natural objects outside – think fallen leaves, dried flowers, cool rocks, and small sticks. Talk with your students about having them find appropriate natural objects (treasures!). Add natural, sensory objects to your sensory table! Provide magnifying glasses, TP binoculars, and other objects to help your littles explore the objects in the center or sensory table.

Allow children to look at, touch, smell, and explore the objects.

If a student finds a bird feather, nest or egg; this is a teachable moment to help them understand that some of nature’s things cannot be physically kept but enjoyed first hand or through drawings or photographs. This is never an easy concept to teach, but is federal law. In the early 1900s, birds were hunted for their feathers. The beautiful plumes and showy feathers were used to decorate women’s hats. Some species, like the snowy egret, had very low populations and the hunting of birds just for their feathers or through over-hunting, or shooting of birds that are predators hurt the population of many birds. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service enacted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918 that prohibits the take (including killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transport) of protected migratory bird species without prior authorization of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Outside Play

If you’re comfortable with your students spending time outdoors, prepare your staff, parents, and students to spend even more time outside, in all sorts of weather!

Need inspiration and suggestions for gear and ideas?

Think of your outside area as an extension of the classroom and plan time for students to enjoy every day possible. Look at your outside play space and consider how you can build upon what is already there to expand your natural setting.

Resources

Those in Iowa have many resources to help you get your children outside! Find your local county conservation board to see if there is a naturalist on staff to help with your preschool outside time! Also search for nearby zoos, aquaria, and museums that have programming for preschool age children.

Classroom Animals

A full or part-time animal in the classroom can be a great resource to understand and enhance learning. Caring for an animal in the classroom allows students to observe and study animals – observation of life cycles, characteristics, behaviors, and habitat needs. A classroom animal can also help children learn responsibility as they take turns caring for the animal.

Classroom animals must be chosen with care and consideration:

  • Safety of your students is first and foremost, choose an animal that is appropriate for the age-level of your students.
  • Consider the needs of the animal and whether or not you and your class will be able to provide what the animal needs.
  • Keep in mind the logistics of keeping a classroom animal. Is it an animal that can be left at school during weekends? What is the plan for the holidays? Who is going to provide veterinary care if the need arises?
  • Is there a permit required to obtain and/or keep your chosen animal? What are the regulations of your school district? (For example, in Iowa, you may collect and keep tadpoles and frogs if you have a valid fishing license. Research your state laws and regulations before you obtain any animal.)

Helpful Links – Classroom Animals

Suggested books from KinderNature Book List

Other books

  • Check out Richard Louv’s new book that was released in June 2026! Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World Louv is also the author of Last Child in the Woods.

Celebrations and important dates upcoming

  • National S’mores Day – every August 10

Upcoming Events!

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