Vernal pool and frog books Vernal pools are hopping, both literally and figuratively! This is the time of year when frogs and salamanders make their way to vernal pools to sing, dance, mate, and lay their eggs. To get your learners excited about this special time of the year, consider reading them vernal pool and […]
Science
Frogs and Toads Together: Why do Amphibians Group Up?For Teachers Why do frogs, toads, and salamanders form groups? Why do male frogs call in a chorus? Why do salamanders migrate in a herd? Amphibians are mysterious creatures and their habits of teaming up for survival are just as intriguing. Teaching about frogs and toads together in your elementary classroom can be a great […]
ELA
Picture Books
10 Books on Hibernation and Other Forms of Dormancy for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Groups [Ep. 30]Books on hibernation and other forms of dormancy Animal dormancy is an interesting phenomena that will engage your students. Hibernation, torpor, brumation, and diapause are all ways that animals can sleep through the winter; a concept that can be a bit challenging for early childhood learners to grasp. Make this abstract concept more tangible by […]
Podcast
Science
Hibernation in Animals: 6 Dormancy Activities for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Groups [Ep. 29]Hibernation in animals and other dormancy Hibernation in animals is a much talked about topic in elementary science, but it’s often misunderstood. Hibernation is usually used as a blanket term for any animal that sleeps through the winter. However, dormancy is the more accurate blanket term for sleeping animals and there are multiple forms that […]
Outdoor Education
Podcast
The Great Backyard Bird Count: How to Put Together a Bird Feeding Station with Martha Holzheuer [Ep. 27]Prepping for the Great Backyard Bird Count I am so excited to be able to offer you a guest interview all about setting up a bird feeding station for the Great Backyard Bird Count! Martha Holzheuer is the owner of Nature Niche and has had an amazing career with a focus on native plants as […]
Outdoor Education
Picture Books
4 Turkey Day Activities and Books for Energetic Elementary Students [Ep. 25]Turkey day activities and books The week leading up to Thanksgiving comes with a lot of energy from your students. They are excited about the idea of having extra time off, eating all the pie, and sleeping in. If you’re feeling overwhelmed finding fun ways to keep your students engaged, make sure to listen to […]
Podcast
6 Animal Migration Activities for the Elementary Classroom [Ep. 20]Animal migration activities Fall animal migration is in full swing and is a natural phenomenon that your students will love to study! And guess what?! It’s a very dynamic concept that can actually apply to physics, life science, Earth science, and space science! In this episode, I introduce a Next Generation Science Standard for each […]
![Exploring Invertebrates: 10 Picture Books to Introduce Animal Characteristics [ep. 9]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/exploring-invertebrates-books-header-990x630.png)
Podcast
Exploring Invertebrates: 10 Picture Books to Introduce Animal Characteristics [Ep. 9]Invertebrates and animal characteristic picture books Invertebrates make up the majority of the animals on Earth, but students aren’t as familiar with them as they are vertebrates. Introducing a variety of animal groups in your science studies is important for your students’ overall understanding of the curriculum. Using picture books to introduce the characteristics of […]
![Animal Characteristic Breakdown: Reaching Your Curricular Goals by Teaching with Animals [ep. 7]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Episode-7-header-990x630.png)
Podcast
Animal Characteristic Breakdown: Reaching Your Curricular Goals By Teaching with Animals [ep. 7]Animal characteristic breakdown Children love animals and are interested in their unique traits. By embracing this interest and teaching with animal characteristic activities in your classroom, you can reach your curricular goals in a student-driven way. In this episode, I introduce a Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for each grade level K-5 that can be […]
Science
A Raising Butterflies Kit for the Classroom: A Conservation ConversationIf you’ve thought about adding a raising butterflies kit to your list of activities this year, you’ll want to read this article first! While these kits have great reviews and many teachers praise their benefits in the classroom, there’s a bigger picture to consider. I had the opportunity to interview Jenn Kirts and Michelle Fournier […]
![6 Elementary Math Activities for Spring Aligned with K-5 Common Core State Standards [Ep. 44]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/spring-elementary-math-header.jpg)
![6 Fun Spring Activities Aligned with K-5 Next Generation Science Standards [Ep. 42]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/spring-activities-header.jpg)
![Vernal Pool Patrol: A Citizen Science Project for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Parents with Lindsey Harrell [Ep. 46]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/vernal-pool-patrol-header.jpg)
![10 Books on Hibernation and Other Forms of Dormancy for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool Groups [Ep. 30]](https://www.naturallyteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/books-on-hibernation-header.jpg)
