Esta semana en la naturaleza (de 10 a 14 años)

Welcome, current and future nature lovers and naturalists! Do you love or are you curious about nature and want to help make the world a better place? This course is for young naturalists who want to learn the basics of biology while applying their learning by making scientific observations and sharing with others from around the world. 
The teacher will draw from current events in natural sciences and immediately involve the students in collaboration. 
This ongoing class is open to students from around the world and that means everybody will have a unique habitat they can report from and share their knowledge from. Students will become teachers themselves in this process!
For this course, learners are free to bring a notebook or blank journal and something to write with. Or not! The teacher also provides PDF print-outs in case we're doing a lab or want to read and discuss an article. 
Below is an example of what a class session could look like:
5 minutes– Introductions and gathering materials
20 minutes- The teacher will give a presentation on a current event in science and ask a leading question. 
10 minutes- Students will ask questions for clarification or lead the discussion and share their thoughts, ideas, and findings as we look at nature in their own location.
10 minutes- Invitation to Investigate- Students can come up with ideas of their own or follow suggestions from the teacher. They'll be encouraged to share their work for class discussion.
Weekend Homework (optional)- 15 minutes to 1-hour per assignment.

My teaching style is laid back and welcoming. We will be very open to discussion and questions as we explore and share students' discoveries and take an active approach to learning. Much of the direction we take will be informed by student interest in a particular topic, especially as it pertains to their local ecology.

We will learn and study more concepts in ecology and biology based on current events in the news or, better still, learners' interests. I like to follow the students' leads on this and will announce upcoming labs or events as they occur or become available.

Week 1-
We find out what a "bioregion" is and get introduced to each other's bioregion. The teacher finds resource materials such as guides to identifying plants and animals for that region and then we discuss a topic such as, "why do some frogs bark?" or "how do bats see in the dark?". The topics will vary from week to week and new students are welcome to jump in at any time.

Week 2-
Students are encouraged to participate in a lab experiment such as, 'The Bird Beak Lab' as we explore and talk about different animal adaptations in nature. Handouts in the form of PDF files are provided or students can fill out their own journals with observations and data taken from this week's lab.

Week 3-
Learners may be well on their way with an experiment or series of observations of their own by now and are encouraged to follow their curiosity as well as share what they're discovering. New students are always welcomed and the topics can change from week to week, depending on each learner's interests. There are always new vocabulary terms or concepts to explore every week.

Week 4-
We'll announce each week's topic and share reports on each learner's findings and discoveries to date. For instance, one student accidentally discovered weevils in her breakfast cereal but instead of throwing it all out, she turned it into a grand science experiment! Another student is reporting on the arrival of geese at a nearby pond in their area while another is sharing their butterfly collection. Every day, there's something new, and Mr. Jorgensen will draw on that for a biology lesson.