Supporting Nature-Based Teaching
At the Harris Center, we specialize in connecting required curriculum to the local landscape through active, outdoor, inquiry-based learning. Harris Center educators freely share their knowledge and resources to help classroom teachers become the place-based educators they dream to be.
Professional learning with the Harris Center comes in many forms:
- Embedded professional development, as we co-teach with classroom teachers in ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, Keene, Stoddard, and SAU 29 schools in our classic school-based environmental education programs
- Our August retreat and year-long support group for K-5 teachers, Refresh, Relax, Reimagine: Developing and Deepening Nature-Based Teaching Skills
- Afterschool mini-workshops on topics such as games to build nature observation skills, nature journaling, bird curriculum through the seasons, and wild mammal evidence
- Custom-designed workshops for a whole school. Examples include The First Six Weeks of School Outside and The Contoocook River as a Whole-School Curriculum Theme
In the Words of Participating Teachers….
“It’s been so enriching to be in this year-long support group. I know that my imagination will be refreshed during each meeting. I leave each session with ideas to use right away.”
“My students have grown to be increasingly comfortable, curious, and calm outdoors. I am motivated to spend more and more time teaching outside.”
“Because we have routines for weekly learning outdoors my students are slowing down and noticing so much more. They now meander, rather than rush.”
Upcoming Teacher Workshops
Nature-Based Learning for K–5 Teachers: A Zoom Talk with JJ Prior
4:15 pm to 5:30 pm
Join Symonds School teacher JJ Prior for this free Teacher Talk about creating nature-based learning experiences for K–5 students. JJ will discuss some of his ambitious projects, such as tapping maple trees, making maple syrup, and raising trout in the classroom.
Learn more »Nature Observation Games: A Workshop for Teachers
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Join Harris Center teacher-naturalists Janet Altobello, Jenna Spear, and Jaime Hutchinson for this fun, energizing professional development workshop for Pre-K through 2nd grade teachers. We’ll play a variety of outdoor games that focus on heightening our observation skills, then create sets of materials that you can begin using the very next day with your class.
Learn more »Contact Us
For more information on the Harris Center’s school-based environmental education programming, please contact Jenna Spear at (603) 525-3394 or by email.
