Nature Detectives is a seasonally themed class that covers the full school year. We begin with Fall-Trees as Habitat, next is Winter Wisdom, then Spring-Nature in Motion. With a flexible format, each session can last 4-8 weeks.  

Our primary goal is to inspire imagination and curiosity, while building skills in art, literacy and science. Students build Naturalist skills through an inquiry-based learning format. I am a facilitator and guide, not a teacher. I give students focus on what to look for outside, prompt student discussion, curiosity, critical thinking and problem solving.  Students are responsible for their own learning and discoveries.  Their Discovery Journals are the foundational practice of every Nature Detectives course. 

We begin each class with discussion of what students will do that day. They go outside with their Nature Discovery Journal, pencils, colored pencils to engage in our activity of the day. Students describe their outdoor experience when they return. What did they see? Where? What objects did they bring back? (such as leaves, bark, pine cones) What questions do they have? What do they wonder about? They share with other students and me what they drew in their Journals. In some classes, they use magnifying glass for close observation and tape measure for comparisons. 

I often give students something to look for, listen for at home. They can also practice the same observation activities outside of class time anytime. 

Our classes also include sharing a related picture book or oral story to better illustrate concepts we are learning about.