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. 6h ago

    87. Seed Activities for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade This Fall

    September is the beginning of fall, but it's also when native plants are showing off their seeds! During the summer, plants worked hard to attract pollinators to their flowers, and now we're seeing the fruits of their labor! Let's take advantage of seeds this fall and get them working for your curriculum. Press play to hear descriptions for being detectives while reading pictures books about plant needs for kindergarteners and growing herb seeds to investigate plant life cycles 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 seed activities for kindergarten and 3rd grade, 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-LS1-1: Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 86: 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged LearnersEpisode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching in NatureThe Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony, illustrated by Cris ArboNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode87 🗂 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. 6d ago

    86. 6 Seed Books for Teaching Elementary-Aged Learners

    September is the beginning of fall, but it's also a time for seeds! After spending spring and summer trying to attract pollinators, plants have successfully pollinated and made seeds. Books are a great way to introduce seeds, plant life cycles, how seeds move, and how animals help disperse seeds. In this episode, I give you a brief summary of seed books and my thoughts on how they can help you with your learners. Books in this episode 📚 A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia LongSeeds by Carme LemniscatesFlip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by Joann Early Macken, illustrated by Pam PaparoneSeeds Move! By Robin PageThe Blue Jay that Grew a Forest by Lynn Street, illustrated by Anne HunterLittle Dandelion Seeds the World by Julia Richardson, illustrated by Kristen Howdeshell and Kevin Howdeshell 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.”Episode 64: 7 Pollinator and Flower Books for Elementary-Aged Students Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode86 🗂 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. Aug 31

    85. Outdoor Education Job: How Mariah Waters Created Her Own Opportunity

    An outdoor education job seems to be hard to come by in this day-and-age. But would you believe me if I told you that there are people making their own jobs in the outdoor education field? In today's episode, Mariah Waters explains how she saw an opportunity and seized it. She talks about presenting, accepting, and developing the outdoor education specialist position at a private independent school in Texas for the 25'-26' school year. You'll definitely want to hit play to hear about how she proposed the idea, how she survived writing a year's curriculum for K-5 grade classes while teaching everyday, and advice she would give to others looking to do something similar. This is a must-listen interview! Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode85 Connect with Mariah Waters: www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-waters 🗂 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. Aug 24

    84. Beginning of the Year Activities to Set You and Your Learners Up for Success

    With school upon us, the stress levels are high for you and your learners. So let's help calm the nerves with some activities that can help you practice your outdoor learning routines and expectations. In this episode, I describe 5 beginning of the year activities that can help set you and your learners up for success this school year. I describe the activities, how they fit into practicing your outdoor learning routines and expectations, and what benefit they can give you and your learners in the first week back to school. Listen in to hear about the following activities: Practicing your routines and procedures for outdoor learningWorking together to ready your outdoor spaceReading a bookDecorating your science notebooksSetting goals for the year Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 2: Outdoor Learning Environment: 3 Things to Plan for Back to SchoolEpisode 14: Outdoor Classroom Routines and Procedures: 5 Easy Activities for Your First Week OutsideEpisode 82: 6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning SpacesEpisode 83: 7 Picture Books for Going Back to SchoolEpisode 5: Science Skills for Students: 10 Picture Books for Encouraging Kid Scientists Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode84 🗂 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. Aug 17

    83. 7 Picture Books for Going Back to School

    It's time to go back to school! Whether you've been looking forward to it or not, school is either right around the corner or you're welcoming it full force this week! So let's get you feeling prepared to take on another year. Books are a great way to ease your learners back into the swing of things and really set them up for success when going back to school. The books in this episode can help introduce your learners to outdoor education, stewardship, and new perspectives; so let's check them out! Books in this episode 📚 Let’s Go Rock Collecting by Roma Gans, illustrated by Holly KellerThe Salamander Room by Anne Mazer, illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou FancherWe’re Going on a Nature Hunt by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Miki SakamotoThe Hike by Alison FarrellMy Forest is Green By Darren Lebeuf, Illustrated by Ashley BarronSky Color by Peter H. ReynoldsDiscovering Nature’s Alphabet By Krystina Castella, Illustrated by Brian Boyl 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.”Ep. 82: 6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning SpacesEp. 81: 5 Strategies for Bringing Nature Into Your Classroom and Learning Spaces Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode83 🗂 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. Aug 10

    82. 6 Classroom Decoration Ideas: How Research Can Help Us Design Student-Centered Learning Spaces

    You may already be back in the classroom or you may be getting ready to be in the classroom shortly. What's the first thing on your mind? Your classroom or learning space! What will you decorate with this year? Will there be a theme? All these questions may be causing you to sweat, but don't worry, I'm here to help! Let's help take some of that back-to-school stress away! In this episode, we'll talk about 6 classroom decoration ideas that are backed by research including: Changing your mindset to view decorations as teaching tools.Selecting decorations that have purpose.Using color intentionally.Leaving room for students to contribute.Thinking about how you want students to use the space.Thinking about students’ needs. Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 81: 5 Strategies for Bringing Nature Into Your Classroom and Learning SpacesForest Classroom Decor GROWING BundleNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode82 🗂 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. Aug 3

    81. 5 Strategies for Bringing Nature Into Your Classroom and Learning Spaces

    It's back-to-school time and some of us are stepping back into the classroom as early as today! To help you feel more prepared and excited for this year, I put together this episode to give you concrete strategies to include nature into your classroom environment. In this episode, we'll talk about 5 strategies for bringing nature into your classroom and learning spaces including: Creating a nature collection tableCollecting and preparing nature manipulativesUsing your windows as a bridge from inside to outsideIncluding indoor plantsUsing natural colors Resources mentioned 💚 Naturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode81 🗂 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. Jul 27

    80. What Butterflies Eat: Interactive Activities for 2nd and 5th Graders

    It's summer and butterflies are in the air! Even though you likely don't have learners with you for a bit, I've got some interactive activities to share with you today to investigate what butterflies eat and how that relates to pollination and food chains. Press play to hear descriptions for a butterfly food snack for 2nd graders and participating in the Monarch Butterflies Journey North project with 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 what butterflies eat, 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: 2-LS2-2: Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.5-PS3-1: Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.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 79: Are Butterflies Insects? Investigation Activities for 1st and 4th GradersEpisode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideEpisode 15: 6 Citizen Science Projects for Elementary Students and TeachersJourney North registration pageNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode80 🗂 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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