Begin Your Environmental Education Journey
The Kootenay Lake Environmental Educators aim to support teachers in all areas of environmental education. This spans from beginning to take students outside to learn to advance adventure based learning and inquiry. Included here is a sequence of potential steps to take to scaffold your own learning and inquiry into the potential of incorporating place-based learning into your teaching practice and pedogogy.
Stage One - Getting Outside
Classroom Management Outside and Beginning to Lesson Plan
Building a tool kit, lesson planning and Risk Management
Classroom Management Outside and Beginning to Lesson Plan
Learning with a class of students outside is managed with a tool kit similar to in the classroom. For the teacher beginning to take students outside to learn this stage will help generate a set of skills, resources and experiences that are rewarding. The aim at this stage is to start simple and slow. Generating a clear set of expectations and while allowing students guide the learning is the focus. To be able to manage behaviours choose familiar locations with predictable boundaries.
Teacher Goals and Actions
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Deliver lesson with mentor
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Design lesson with mentor
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Design and deliver lesson independently
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Stage Two - Going Further
Note to editor - this stage is about developing skills to facilitate: nature based learning, leadership for the Core Competencies and Risk Management (First-aid)
Pro-D is OCC or CUI
Teacher Focus:
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Connect with community organizations to create lessons and experiences
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Incorporating Place-based learning into curriculum and units
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plan longer self directed outings but within comfortable distance from school
Extending Outings and Place-based Learning with Intent
Engaging students in extended experiences in their community and surrounding environment enables teachers to create cross-curricular lessons while generated authentic experiences for students. These experiences can be built from knowledge of how to manage risk and program for student's development stages in their community and outdoors.
Stage Three - Going Further
As interest develops so will this section. Check back in for more opportunities that will support your professional growth.