Forest Friday Lessons for K-2

If you’re reading this, it probably means you’re interested in nature education and getting your students outdoors as much as possible! In today’s teaching world, however, it sometimes seems impossible to find the time for it! I’ve found over the years that having a designated time that I ALWAYS bring my students outside, no matter the weather or our schedule demands, is the best way to make sure we actually go outside. Forest Friday is the name I use for our hour outside each Friday. I’ve also heard it called Wild Wednesday, Nature Hour, or other catchy names. It doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as you commit to it each week!

I made this resource for K-2 teachers who are looking for ideas for what to do in their outside hour each week. Each of these lessons hits on one of the Common Core Standards, including speaking and listening, writing, and numeracy. It also helps reach some of the Next Generation Science Standards, and also incorporates both movement and creativity!

Lessons include:

1. Sit Spot
2. Shape Hunt
3. Color Scavenger Hunt
4. Camera in Nature
5. Nature Poetry
6. Observation Circle
7. Number Line in Nature
8. Ways to Make a Number
9. Time Wheels
10. Nature Mandalas