"It is not half so important to know as to feel when introducing a young child to the natural world."
~Rachel Carson
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Course Syllabus


Units begin every Sunday 12:00am and run through 11:59pm Saturday.

Assignment Descriptions & Details

Grading Scale & Assignment Rubrics

Unit 1: Teacher & Learner Considerations
I. Teaching Outdoor Environmental Education (OEE)
   A. What is Outdoor Education?
   B. Reasons for Teaching Outdoors
   C. Competencies of Outdoor Educators
II. Teaching & Learning Styles
   A. Learning Modalities
   B. Multiple Intelligences
III. Learner Characteristics
   A. Early Elementary
   B. Five-Nineteen Year Olds

Unit 2: Topics to Teach
I. Environmental Topics
    A. Adaptations
    B. Habitats
    C. Four Elements of Life
    D. Life’s Interconnections
    E. Energy Flow
    F. Phenology
    G. Taxonomy
    H. Sustainability
II. Likely Outdoor Topics
    A. Teachable Moments
    B. Sense of Wonder & Place
    C. Aesthetics

Unit 3: Teaching Strategies & Activities
I. Strategies & Activities
    A. Leading a Hike
    B. Storytelling
    C. Creative Drama
    D. Sensory Learning
    E. Experiments
    F. Games
    G. Data Collection
    H. Gardening
    I. Nature Journaling
    J. Scavenger Hunts
    K. Field Trips

Unit 4: Planning & Conducting Outdoor EE
I. Teacher Planning
    A. Preparing the Activity
    B. Logistics & Safety
    C. Assessment
II. Student Preparation
    A. Pre- and Post-visit Activities
    B. The Respect Rule