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Nature provides real-world applications for mathematical concepts that not only enhance students' numeracy skills, but also foster a deeper appreciation of the subject. Whether its patterns, geometry, or modelling, nature provides a wealth of opportunity for mathematical learning!

Check out our tips below and dive into our Online Learning Library for some lesson plans and activities to get you started in integrating nature-based learning into your next mathematics lesson!

• Measuring with Natural Objects -  Use natural materials like twigs, leaves or rocks for hands-on calculation and measurement activities. Students can compare the lengths of different twigs, measure the circumference of tree trunks using string, or use rocks to practices their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills.

• Geometry - Take students outside to explore geometric shapes and patterns in nature. Get them to identify and measure angles in tree branches, study the symmetry of flowers, or even calculate the volume of a puddle. For younger students, you can conduct an outdoor shape hunt where students seek out and identify different shapes in nature (e.g., tree rings as circles, leaves as triangles, etc.).

• Data Collection and Analysis - Encourage students to collect data through real-world observation. This could include measuring and tracking precipitation, observing birds visiting a bird feeder, or monitoring plant growth in a school garden. They can then use this data to create graphs, analyze trends, and make predictions, reinforcing concepts of statistics and probability.

• Fibonacci Sequence in Nature - Introduce students to the Fibonacci sequence and its prevalence in nature, such as in the arrangement of leaves on a stem, the spirals of a pinecone, or the petals of a flower. This can spark discussions about sequences, ratios and exponential growth.

• Real-world Math Problems - Create real-world math problems that get students involved in applying their math skills, such as calculating the rate of water flow in a river, determining the area of a garden bed, or estimating the height of a tree using shadow lengths and angles. This is a great way to make math more engaging and relevant to students!

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Ready to flip the script on your social studies class? Dive into history, culture and geography through environmental education and nature-based learning! Enhance the curriculum with hands-on activities and experiences that take learning beyond the classroom and encourage students to examine their relationship with the world around them. 

Check out our tips to spark your imagination and inspire you to integrate environmental and outdoor education into your next social studies lesson!

• Outdoor Debates and Discussions - Take debates and discussions beyond the classroom walls by hosting them outdoors! The natural setting provides a refreshing backdrop for lively discussion and encourages students to connect their arguments with the broader environment.

• Nature Journaling - Integrate nature journaling into your social studies curriculum. Encourage students to keep journals documenting their observations and reflections on topics while surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

• Outdoor History Walks - Take your social studies class outdoors with guided history walks around the school grounds or local community. Explore historical landmarks, discuss their significance and let students uncover the past in a tangible way.

• Geographical Treasure Hunts - Spice up your geography lessons by organizing an outdoor treasure hunt that requires students to navigate and map their surroundings. Incorporate clues and landmarks, turning the outdoor space into an interactive geography lesson! This hands-on approach not only enhances map-reading skills but also deepens their understanding of the geographical features in their area.

• Community Service Projects - Connect social studies with environmental stewardship through community service projects. Whether its conducting a community clean-up, planting a school garden, or creating community art to raise awareness about a topic or issue, students can actively contribute to their community and strengthen their civic engagement by taking part in projects that have real-world impact.

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Nature can bring the language arts curriculum to life! Not only can nature act as a source of inspiration for writing, including stories and poetry, but it also provides opportunities for observation, inquiry and key skill development.

Language arts teaches us how to communicate, how to interpret the world around us, how to work together to solve problems, and how  to capture, record and share information and ideas with others.

By infusing nature-base learning into language arts, we can foster literacy while inspiring a deeper connection and appreciation for the environment!

Check out the tips below for some easy ways to integrate environmental and outdoor education into your next language arts lesson!

For Early Years and Elementary

• Through Nature Journalling, you can foster observation and writing skills by encouraging youth to draw, label and describe the things they observe in nature.
• Engage youth in a brainstorming session to create a personal mind map illustrating their connections to the ocean.
• Build research, speaking and writing skills by having youth conduct a mock interview with a local animal of plants species, then having them use the information they collect to write an illustrative article!
• Youth can practice their listening skills by learning some of the common birdsongs from species in their local area.

For Middle Years and High School

• Engage youth in researching, developing and presenting information on their local watershed through a hands-on or digital display. Youth can choose from a variety of display styles, including story, art, video or even 3D models.
• Through role-playing, have students explore the impacts of climate change from a variety of perspectives.
• Develop students’ verbal presentation skills by engaging in a debate about the positive and negative effects of invasive species.
• Challenge stereotypes and encourage youth to examine the difference between facts and opinion by exploring our relationship with urban wildlife, including those often seen as pests such as skunks and racoons.

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Pairing science with nature-based education? Now that’s a winning combination!

Science helps us better understand the natural world around us! Through science, we ask questions and seek answers to grow our collective knowledge.

Nature-based learning provides an amazing gateway for real-world problem-solving, research and critical thinking – all key skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Check out the tips below for some easy ways to integrate environmental and outdoors education into your next science lesson!

For Early Years and Elementary

• Teach about the movement of animals by examining wildlife tracks in the mud or snow.
• Explore the components of habitat by having students create a map of their own habitat then compare their needs to those of plants and wildlife.
• Showcase the changing seasons by examining how polar bears adapt to Canada’s winters. This activity is also a great way to teach about temperature!
• Invite students to observe the lifecycle of plants firsthand by having them create paper plant pots to grow their own seedlings in the spring!
• Examine plant structure and function with this handy factsheet detailing the process of pollination.
• Conduct an experiment to see which foods are preferred by birds by erecting a bird feeding station and observing its visitors!

For Middle Years and High School

• Explore our connection to the ocean through our watersheds by mapping the flow of water from your community to the ocean.
• Have your students become citizen scientists by collecting and documenting observations of local biodiversity through iNaturalist.ca.
• Discover how water gets cleaned by wetlands by creating a filter using a pop bottle and natural materials.
• Explore the impacts of climate change on wildlife by examining its influence on different groups of animals.
• Play a card-matching activity to explore how human activities can accidentally transport invasive species into ecosystems.
• Explore the concept of sustainability by examining your individual and collect carbon footprint!

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Recipes for Transformative Education

Take your standard curriculum, fold in some experiential learning, add a generous helping of nature and you’ve got a recipe for education that has the power to inspire and transform!

This school year bring your classroom to life by incorporating nature-based learning into your teaching practice! From science to math, arts to social studies, follow along with us as we share our “recipes for success” each month. All you need to do is add nature!

If you haven't signed up to receive our monthly education newsletters you can click here and sign up at the bottom of the page, and be sure to check back here so you don't miss the next post in October!

What’s coming up this year?

• October 2023 | Science
• November 2023 | Language Arts
• December 2023 | Winter Break
• January 2024 | Social Studies
• February 2024 | Mathematics
• March 2024 | Spring Break
• April 2024 | Arts
• May 2024 | Health & Physical Education
• June 2024 | Summer Break

In the meantime, check out our Online Resource Library to discover a wide array of educational content, including lesson plans, factsheets, projects and videos!

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Here you will find a wide range of educational resources, lesson plans, videos, and hands-on projects to help you teach students of all ages about wildlife and habitat conservation. You can also browse our teaching tools to find Resources and Videos that meet your individual teaching needs.

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