A Morning in the Intertidal
Today’s low tide arrives not too long after sunrise, leaving parts of the beach still in shadows. The tall, beige, silty cliff that backs the beach blocks the easterly sun. Typical summer morning fog...
Adventures of a College Instructor Blog
I Wrangled 120 College Students Outside
Want to hear a crazy story? One time I took 120 college students outside. All at the same time. On a warm spring day. About halfway through the semester. Maybe for some of you...
How You Can Ensure All Students Experience the Outdoors
I strongly believe all students should experience the outdoors. And we know that field experiences are helpful to students. Check out my previous post on the topic if you haven’t yet! So why aren’t...
Driftwood Photographs of the California Coast
Visit These Places! Are you near the Monterey Bay? Want to get outside? These beaches are perfect for a class field trip for any age group, a family picnic, or a day exploring the...
What 6 Experts Say About the Benefits of Teaching Outside
“…one transcendent experience in nature is worth a thousand nature facts…” claims author and retired education professor David Sobel. I would have to agree. In an earlier post, I described the impact of early...
Elkhorn Slough Photographs
Enjoy some additional photographs from my class’s kayaking adventure in Elkhorn Slough! I also snapped a few images from a trail overlooking the northern section of the estuary. I find that many students enjoy...
Kayaking Elkhorn Slough
For one of our last field trips of the semester, I took my Coastal Field Studies class kayaking in Elkhorn Slough! The slough is a tidal estuary—meaning that it connects to the ocean and...
Taking the Classroom Outside
One of my earliest memories is swimming in the Pacific Ocean with my dad. We were at the beach in Santa Cruz, CA, and I was about 5-years-old. I can picture so clearly my...
A 5-Step Guide to an Easy Climate Change Activity (Plus 5 Interdisciplinary Extensions!)
Last week I wrote about an art activity involving polar bear habitats. In this post, I’ll give you step-by-step directions for using those habitat drawings in a climate change activity. This activity is great...
2 Easy Ways to Use Art in University Science Classes
When people see my office for the first time, they often ask if I teach elementary school also. Nope, just university students right now. They ask this because the walls are covered with various...