​Starting Investigations with “I”: Discussing Researcher Bias with Elementary-Age Students

In this article, written for The Outdoor Teacher web publication, I offer a lesson plan and reflection on discussing the importance of researcher reflexivity in scientific investigations with elementary-age students. The lesson plan scaffolds understanding of the concept and how we as scientists influence the research we conduct through three rounds of a leaf graphing activity.

A Young Explorer's Guide to Hidden Creatures

This virtual field trip invites young explorers to venture into different habitats in search of the creatures they will create along the way. Grab some art supplies and a sense of adventure and start exploring!

​National Environmental Education Week 2015 in Shiprock, New Mexico

In the spring of 2015, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) awarded its first Schoolyard STEM Lab with funding provided by Samsung. The project culminated in a celebratory event during National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) at Nizhoni Elementary School on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico...

Habitat Fun and Outdoor Activity at Debris Day!

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) joined Living Classrooms and several other environmental organizations from the DC area for another beautiful morning of EE and fun on the Anacostia River! Debris Day, organized by Living Classrooms, invites local elementary students to join in environmental education-themed activities and games while working together to take care of Kingman Island...

Debris Day with Living Classrooms

EE Week joined Living Classrooms and other environmental organizations to help teach local DC elementary students about stream quality and environmental health. Located in the middle of the Anacostia River, Kingman Island provided a great venue to think about what makes a healthy river run smoothly...

Activity Guides

Collected here are a few samples of educational materials I have created, intended for simple at-home exploration of environmental topics. By presenting advanced environmental concepts through easy to follow, visually engaging, fun activity worksheets, I hope to provide a jumping off point for parents, educators, or self-driven young learners to expand their understanding and interest in the natural world around them.
Animal Migration Activity Guide

​This activity guide is full of fun ways to learn about animal migrations in the US. Designed for elementary age kids, it can be used in a classroom as a worksheet or at home for some easy activity ideas. Activities included encourage kids to use STEM skills to explore the topic, whether they are using math to plot the coordinates of monarch migration paths, engineering to design their birdfeeder, science to understand the phenomenon of animal migration, or technology to get involved with online citizen science.

Created for the National Environmental Education Foundation.
CLICK HERE to go to the Activity Guide page or click the image to the left to download the PDF.
Pollinator Activity Guide

Young explorers! Print out a copy of this activity worksheet, grab a pencil and head out into the backyard or a park to start your pollinator investigation! Look for a patch of flowers and watch closely to see what sort of animals visit them. Then, follow the activities on your worksheet to record your observations, monitor what types of pollinators you see, and help attract more pollinators. You can use this activity guide in school, at camp or at home for a fun afternoon! By recording the date at the top of the page, you can check in on the flowers on different days to see if you find something new!

Created for the National Environmental Education Foundation.
CLICK HERE to go to the Activity Guide page or click the image to the left to download the PDF.
Wetlands Activity Guide

Wetlands are amazing ecosystems and can be found all over the United States. This worksheet guides young learners through a wetland exploration to discover the many important functions of wetlands, the interconnected web of animal and plant species that live in wetland environments, and offers step-by-step instructions for crafting an origami lotus flower!

Created for the National Environmental Education Foundation.
CLICK HERE to go to the Activity Guide page or click the image to the left to download the PDF.
Water Quality Activity Guide

Use this activity guide to learn more and explore the topic of water quality. With activities to do both on and off the worksheet, it's perfect for your next environmental investigation! You can use this activity guide in school, at camp, at a park or at home!

Created for the National Environmental Education Foundation.
CLICK HERE to go to the Activity Guide page or click the image to the left to download the PDF.