Sparks and Embers

  • Schoolyard Explorations - What Color is Fall?

    When we think of fall, we usually think of reds, oranges, and yellows. We will see what is happening to plants this time of year and discover that fall is also pink earthworms, gray pill bugs, brown earth, green buds, and many other colors.

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  • Schoolyard Explorations - BEES!

    When many people think about bees, they picture a honey bee. But our native bees are so much more fascinating, valuable, and imperiled. Through place-based project learning and participatory science projects, your students can explore nearby nature and meet the wild bees in their schoolyards and beyond. 

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  • Schoolyard Explorations - BIRDS!

    Wherever we live, we share our spaces with birds. Brian Collins (Teacher of the Year and birder extraordinaire) and Naomi Hadley (Natural Resources Foundation Birdathon Coordinator) will explore how to introduce your students to these fascinating wild neighbors. 

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Articles

Finding Comfort in the Rhythms of Nature
Simply put, phenology is the study of seasonal changes. At home, the easiest way to get started with phenology is to simply begin paying attention to what’s happening outside your window. It doesn’t matter how small or large your spot is, as long as you are able to observe it consistentl...
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Risk and Play
Creating an environment where children can safely explore is essential to building strong bodies and critical thinkers. When the environment is controlled to eliminate any or all risks, children may lose some of their ability to weigh, ponder, and consider their actions and decisions. ...
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Honoring Questions for an Inquiry Mindset
How can we invite student questioning into our lessons without being overwhelmed? How do we honor questions and still get through all we need to cover? How do we engage students in questioning when their questions may not have been honored in the past? How do we respond to questions we t...
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