Naturally Teaching Elementary: A Podcast for Teachers and Homeschool Families

Victoria Zablocki, Elementary Teacher turned Outdoor Educator
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Are you an elementary teacher or homeschool parent that wants to add more value to your lessons? Do you know the value of cultivating science skills in your students but feel like you don’t know the best way to incorporate them in your classroom? Then this is the perfect show for you! Naturally Teaching Elementary is a podcast designed for the elementary teacher and homeschool parent with too much on their plate but a desire to best serve their children. Each week Victoria Zablocki and her guests will cover ways to integrate science into your ELA studies, demystify scientific concepts, and share tips and tricks to take learning outside. Victoria Zablocki is a former elementary educator with 10 years of experience integrating outdoor education into science learning. You can follow her on Instagram @naturally.teaching. To get more access to great content, head to https://www.naturallyteaching.com/

  1. 2d ago

    79. Are Butterflies Insects? Investigation Activities for 1st and 4th Graders

    Summer is when butterflies shine! They're out in full force, making it a great time to highlight butterflies and how they're insects. So let's get you inspired by some butterfly activity ideas this summer! Press play to hear descriptions for a thinking board about insects and butterflies for 1st graders and a set of butterfly senses centers for 4th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity answers the question "are butterflies insects?", and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level. Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode: 1-LS3-1: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.4-LS1-2: Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 78: Butterflies with Orange and Other Adaptations for Kindergarten and 3rd GradersInsect Characteristic BookletNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode79 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  2. Jul 13

    78. Butterflies with Orange and Other Adaptations for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade

    July is when the North American Butterfly Count happens, making it a great time to highlight butterflies and their amazing adaptations! So let's get you some butterfly activity ideas to noodle on over the summer until you're back in the swing of things! Press play to hear descriptions for designing a host plant and caterpillar pair for kindergarteners and a research project about butterfly survival adaptations for 3rd graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how they relate to activities about butterflies with orange and other adaptations for kindergarteners and 3rd graders, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level. Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode: K-ESS3-1: Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.3-LS3-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 77: 6 Butterfly Books to Introduce Characteristics, Adaptations, and Life CyclesHow Butterflies Grow: 8 Picture Books About Butterfly Life CyclesWhat Butterfly Looks Like a Monarch and 4 Other Butterfly Survival StrategiesA Raising Butterflies Kit for the Classroom: A Conservation ConversationButterfly Life Cycle and Heredity Mini Unit for 3rd Grade (ELA & Science Activities)Naturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode78 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  3. Jul 6

    77. 6 Butterfly Books to Introduce Characteristics, Adaptations, and Life Cycles

    July is the month of butterflies thanks to the heat of the summer and the North American Butterfly Count! Butterflies are a high-interest topic that many adults and children get really engaged with. So this month I'll be focusing on butterflies and all their mystique. Books are a great way to introduce butterflies, their characteristics, adaptations, and interesting life cycles. In this episode, I give you a brief summary of butterfly books and my thoughts on how they can help you with your learners. Books in this episode 📚 Waiting for Wings by Lois EhlertAre You a Butterfly? by Judy Allen, illustrated by Tudor HumphriesPapilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou MusserButterflies Are Pretty…Gross! By Rosemary Cosco, Illustrated by Jacob SouvaThe Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Erika MezaButterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Meilo Sol Want to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here! (Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you) Resources mentioned 💚 “Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”How Butterflies Grow: 8 Picture Books About Butterfly Life CyclesEp. 9: Exploring Invertebrates: 10 Picture Books to Introduce Animal Characteristics Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode77 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  4. Jun 29

    76. Teaching with Photographs: 6 Research-Based Benefits to Elementary Learners

    This is a topic I've been excited to dive into for some time, and summer seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce it. If you've never thought about how teaching with actual photographs can help your learners in science, this episode is a must-listen. I'm an avid collector of nature photos because you just never know when you'll need that random pic of a raccoon track in the mud. In this episode, we'll talk about 6 research-based benefits to teaching with photos including: Why teaching with pictures even matters.How teaching with photos helps build accurate mental models.How teaching with photographs supports inquiry.How photos can be used for scientific evidence.How teaching with photographs can build a sense of place and community.And how student-created pictures develop scientific skills in children. Resources mentioned 💚 Canva for TeachersWikimedia CommonsUnsplashPixabayNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode76 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  5. Jun 22

    75. Summer Activities for 2nd and 5th Graders Aligned with NGSS

    Summer has begun! And with it is a wonderful opportunity to explore water and where it can be found. Now is a great time to suggest to your learners' caregivers to enjoy the local waterways and help prevent that summer slide. Press play to hear descriptions for tracking local water visits for 2nd graders and a local waterway clean up for 5th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to water in summer, and how you can share those activities with your learners' families. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level. Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode: 2-ESS2-3: Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.5-ESS2-2: Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.5-ESS3-1: Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 74: Outside Summer Activities for 1st and 4th Graders Aligned with NGSSEpisode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode75 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  6. Jun 15

    74. Outside Summer Activities for 1st and 4th Graders Aligned with NGSS

    The summer solstice is coming up next week! Which brings with it signs of summer including warmer temps and longer hours of daylight. So let's give your learners some fun games they can enjoy with their families to extend their learning as well as prevent the dreaded summer slide! Press play to hear descriptions for hours of sunlight hopscotch for 1st graders and a flashlight hide-and-seek game for 4th graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to light, and a description of how to implement the activity with your learners. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level. Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode: 1-ESS1-2: Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.4-PS4-2: Develop a model to describe that light reflecting from objects and entering the eye allows objects to be seen. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 72: 6 Books for Summer to Help You and Your Learners’ Caregivers Introduce Seasonal SignsEpisode 73: Summer Activities for Kindergarteners and 3rd Graders Aligned with NGSSEpisode 17: 6 Fun Fall Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science StandardsNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode74 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  7. Jun 8

    73. Summer Activities for Kindergarteners and 3rd Graders Aligned with NGSS

    June is the beginning of summer which brings a nice break for you the educator, and family time for your learners. So let's give your learners hands-on experiences they can enjoy with their families to extend their learning as well as prevent the dreaded summer slide! Press play to hear descriptions for a summer scavenger hunt for kindergarteners and collecting summer weather data for 3rd graders, both aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how they relate to summer activities for kindergarteners and 3rd graders, and how you can share those activities with your learners' families. And make sure to listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these activities or use an activity for a different grade level. Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this episode: K-ESS2-1: Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.3-ESS2-1: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 72: 6 Books for Summer to Help You and Your Learners’ Caregivers Introduce Seasonal SignsSummer Outdoor Scavenger Hunt ListSummer Book PrintableNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode73 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

  8. Jun 1

    72. 6 Books for Summer to Help You and Your Learners' Caregivers Introduce Seasonal Signs

    Summer is on the horizon, so now is a good time to start scoping out books for summer to help you and your learners' caregivers teach seasonal concepts. Picture books are a great way to explore the changing of the seasons in words and pictures! In this episode I cover 6 books for summer that introduce the signs of the season, ways people can explore nature in summer, and crops that can be harvested. Press play to hear about "Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer" by Kenard Pak, "Summer is Here" by Renee Watson, "Summer Song" by Kevin Henkes, "Summer Color" by Dianna Murray, and more. Books in this episode 📚 Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer by Kenard PakSummer is Here by Renee Watson, illustrated by Bea JacksonSummer Song By Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura DronzekSummer Color by Dianna Murray, illustrated by Zoe PersicoWhen Summer Comes: Exploring Nature in Our Warmest Season by Aimee M. Bissonnette, illustrated by Erin HouriganCheers for a Dozen Ears: A Summer Crop of Counting by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, illustrated by Susan Swan Want to view all of these books in one place? Check them out here! (Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you) Resources mentioned 💚 “Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”“Teaching the Weather of Summer: A Helpful Guide for Elementary Teachers”Naturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode72 🗂 Find activities easily with the Naturally Teaching Activity Index 🛒 TpT Shop: Naturally Teaching 💚 Get more tips and tricks on the website: NaturallyTeaching.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @naturally.teaching 💻 Check us out on Facebook: @naturally.teaching

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Are you an elementary teacher or homeschool parent that wants to add more value to your lessons? Do you know the value of cultivating science skills in your students but feel like you don’t know the best way to incorporate them in your classroom? Then this is the perfect show for you! Naturally Teaching Elementary is a podcast designed for the elementary teacher and homeschool parent with too much on their plate but a desire to best serve their children. Each week Victoria Zablocki and her guests will cover ways to integrate science into your ELA studies, demystify scientific concepts, and share tips and tricks to take learning outside. Victoria Zablocki is a former elementary educator with 10 years of experience integrating outdoor education into science learning. You can follow her on Instagram @naturally.teaching. To get more access to great content, head to https://www.naturallyteaching.com/

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