Short, Stand-Alone Outdoor Science Activities Menu
Educators looking for stand-alone and quick (up to one hour) outdoor science activities that are engaging and need little to no preparation will find the following resource helpful. In it, we provide at-a-glance details for educators to select engaging and fun science activities developed at The Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, that allow students to explore outdoor spaces in a scientific way.
Key information. These activities are best suited for Transitional Kindergarten through eighth-grade in-person instruction in a small or large group. Teachers need little science background to successfully incorporate these activities into their teaching. A schoolyard, small grassy area, garden, or local park, are all settings that are included. Activities are sorted by grade level, with information about the relationship of each activity to the Next Generation Science Standards.
© Paige Green, Education Outside
RESOURCE
Click here for a Google Sheet of the Short, Stand-Alone Outdoor Science Activities Menu. Please download your own copy or make a copy in Google Sheets for yourself.
Credits
This article and resource was written and created by Cristina Edwards, Cassia Issac, Vanessa Lujan, Sarah Pedemonte, and Craig Strang of The Lawrence Hall of Science at University of California, Berkeley.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.
