Naturally Teaching Elementary: A Podcast for Teachers and Homeschool Families

Victoria Zablocki, Elementary Teacher turned Outdoor Educator

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. 35M AGO

    46. Vernal Pool Patrol: A Citizen Science Project for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Parents with Lindsey Harrell

    Vernal pools are a little-known secret, but are an amazing spring phenomenon. These unique wetlands are made from snow melt and spring rains and are only around for short time. But in their short time, they are home to special organisms and are crucial for the survival of many species. In today's episode, Lindsey Harrell explains the Vernal Pool Patrol, a community science opportunity in Michigan. She starts with an explanation of what vernal pools are, how they benefit nature, where to find vernal pools near you, what kind of equipment you might want, and more. If you're interested in taking part in this community science project, but you're not sure what to expect, make sure to listen to the end of the episode. Today's nature note is my firsthand experience surveying a pool with the Vernal Pool Patrol. Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode46 Email Lindsey Harrell: lharrell@chippewanaturecenter.org Links to Vernal Pool Patrol resources: Vernal Pool Patrol Landing PageVernal Pool Patrol Training PageIdentification ResourcesVernal Pool Michigan MapMichigan Vernal Pool PartnershipMichigan Vernal Pools Research Fund 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    25 min
  2. MAR 24

    45. 6 Earth Day Projects for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Parents

    Earth Day is coming up in just under a month and it's a great holiday to incorporate science activities into your celebrations! Many Earth Day activity lists suggest the same ideas over and over, so I'm here to give you some unique projects to do with your learners this year. Tune in to hear descriptions for 6 Earth Day projects aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-5. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the project, how the project relates to Earth Day, and a description of how to implement the project in your classroom or at home. Make sure you listen all the way through the episode; you may find yourself inspired to adapt one of these projects or use one for a different grade level. Earth Day projects describe in this episode include: Kindergarten: Designing trash picker-uppers1st Grade: Solving the problem of staying warm in a car2nd Grade: Designing a way to clean water3rd Grade: Creating a wetland mitigation model4th Grade: Developing non-renewable and renewable resource saving punch cards5th Grade: Participating in the iNaturalist citizen science project Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideThe Day the Trash Came Out to Play by David M. Beadle, illustrated by Laurie A. FaustThe Mess That We Made by Michelle Lord, illustrated by Julia BlattmanEarth Day Engineers Water Mini Unit for 2nd Grade (STEM and ELA Activities)Earth Day Engineers Habitat Mini Unit for 3rd Grade (STEM and ELA Activities)Episode 15: 6 Citizen Science Projects for Elementary Students18 Kids Earth Day Books to Inspire Elementary Students This YearA List of Earth Day Activities Elementary Students Will Love This Year Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode45 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 Find activities...

    26 min
  3. MAR 17

    44. 6 Elementary Math Activities for Spring Aligned with K-5 Common Core State Standards

    If you're looking for a way to practice your math concepts in a real-world context this spring, this is the podcast episode for you! Tune in to hear descriptions for 6 elementary math activities for spring aligned with Common Core State Standards for grades K-5. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to the spring season, 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. Elementary math activities described in this episode include: Kindergarten: Counting flower petals1st Grade: Measuring spring sprouts2nd Grade: Telling sunrise and sunset times on clocks3rd Grade: Finding the volume of objects using displacement4th Grade: Counting sap drips and multiplying by 2 digit numbers5th Grade: Mystery patterns with partners Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideScience Activity IndexEpisode 41: Teaching Elementary Math Outside with Lauren MacLeanEpisode 42: 6 Fun Spring Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science StandardsEpisode 43: 9 Spring Picture Books to Help You Introduce Seasonal Signs, Plants, and Animals Time and DateThe Old Farmer’s AlmanacMaple Tree Tapping - Sap Dripping video Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode44 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    22 min
  4. MAR 10

    43. 9 Spring Picture Books to Introduce Seasonal Signs, Plants, and Animals in Spring

    Spring is about to begin, so now is a good time to start scoping out spring picture books to help you 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 9 picture books that introduce the signs of the season, plants, and animals in spring. Press play to hear about "Spring Thaw" by Steven Schnur, "Abracadabra, It’s Spring" by Anne Sibley O’Brien, "Worm Weather" by Jean Taft, "Bloom Boom!" by April Pulley Sayre, and more. Resources mentioned 💚 Spring Picture Book Companion for KindergartenA Fantastic Spring Picture Book List for Elementary Teachers with 20 TitlesTapping Into Learning: 15 Maple Syrup Books for Elementary ScienceTeaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary ClassroomsWorm Weather Picture Book Companion for KindergartenEpisode 16: 10 Fall Picture Books to Introduce Seasonal Signs, Falling Leaves, and Animals in Autumn Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode43 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    18 min
  5. MAR 3

    42. 6 Fun Spring Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science Standards

    Spring is a season of growth, rebirth, and rejuvenation. The plants and animals feel energized, and so do we. We all missed that sun and the warmer temperatures. So let's make the season work for you by including fun spring activities in your schedule! Tune in to hear descriptions for 6 fun spring activities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-5. During the episode I share the standard that inspired the activity, how the activity relates to the spring season, and a description of how to implement the activity in your classroom. 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. Fun spring activities described in this episode include: Kindergarten: A Hummingbird’s Needs Survey1st Grade: Engineering a Solution to Stay Dry in Rain2nd Grade: Phenology Study with Ephemeral Flowers3rd Grade: Dimorphism Flag Tag4th Grade: Flooding Solution Models5th Grade: Maple Sap to Maple Syrup Relay Race Resources mentioned 💚 Episode 6: 5 Outdoor Education Safety Tips for Teaching OutsideEpisode 17: 6 Fun Fall Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science StandardsEpisode 20: 6 Animal Migration Activities for the Elementary ClassroomHummingbird Migration ProjectMiss Maple’s Seeds Book Companion for 2nd GradeNaturally Teaching Activity Index Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode42 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    28 min
  6. FEB 24

    41. Teaching Elementary Math Outside with Lauren MacLean

    If you've been wanting to take your elementary math outside but you're not sure where to start, then this is the podcast episode for you! In today's episode, Lauren MacLean explains a typical day in nature with learners, the benefits of learning math outside, activity types for teaching math in nature, a realistic view of using math manipulatives outside, documenting learner progress, SO MANY examples, and more. Make sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode because today's Teaching Tip is a list of 11 nature-based picture books that are all about mathematical concepts. Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode41 Connect with Lauren MacLean Email Lauren: lauren@teachoutdoors.caTeach Outdoors websiteTeach Outdoors podcastNature's Path: A Year of Monthly SparksSitting With Nature: An Educator's Guide to Sit Spots Me and My Sit SpotMe and My Sit Spot for Early LearnersMe and My Sit Spot - French TranslationSit Spot Classroom Kit 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    38 min
  7. FEB 17

    40. 10 Ice and Snow Art Ideas for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Parents

    Snow and ice are unique weather phenomena that children absolutely love. So let's take advantage of that excitement and give them fun ice and snow art projects to dive into this winter! Tune in to hear about the difference between product and process art as well as 10 project ideas all about snow and ice. During the episode, I share a description for each project, materials you'll need to make each project happen, preparation suggestions, and how to present the projects to your learners. Ice and snow projects described in the episode include: Painting with colored ice cubesGeoboard snowflakesSnowflake symmetryWatercolor revealing snowflakesPuffy snow paintToothpick and marshmallow snowflakesOver and under the snow and ice landscapesSnow and ice scultpuresPainting snow with watercolorsMaking rainbow icicles Resources mentioned 💚 38. 6 Activities for Learning About Water in Winter for Teachers and Homeschool Parents39. 11 Children’s Water Cycle Books for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool ParentsSnow and Winter Weather Mini Unit for Kindergarten Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode40 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    21 min
  8. FEB 10

    39. 11 Children's Water Cycle Books for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Parents

    Winter is the perfect season to explore the water cycle with your learners since freezing temperatures give way to some lesser seen steps in the process. In winter, water can naturally be found in all three states, providing experiences that are unattainable the rest of the year. In this episode I cover 11 children’s water cycle books that introduce the water cycle, where water can be found, and that it comes in different states. Press play to hear about "Water is Water" by Miranda Paul, "Once Upon a Raindrop" by James Carter, "From River to Raindrop: The Water Cycle" by Emma Carlson Berne, "Maple Syrup from the Sugarhouse" by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton, and more. Resources mentioned 💚 “How Maple Syrup Season Can Help You Teach Elementary Students”“Teaching with Books: How to Integrate Science and Literacy for Elementary Classrooms.”Maple Syrup and Water Cycle Mini Unit for 2nd GradeTapping Into Learning: 15 Maple Syrup Books for Elementary Science“The Great Backyard Bird Count: How to Take Part for Elementary Teachers” Show Notes: https://naturallyteaching.com/episode39 🎙 Leave me a message on SpeakPipe! 🗂 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 Mentioned in this episode: Outdoor Education Ruined My Life I need your help with celebrating 50 episodes on the podcast! If you love outdoor education and want to share your story about how it changed your life, send me a message at SpeakPipe or send me an email and I'll read it alongside my story for the 50th episode. Share your story by April 14th, 2025.

    24 min
5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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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