Introducing different natural environments to children can help them think beyond their immediate surroundings and build well-rounded perspectives. Nature-based learning and education improves a child's academic performance and critical thinking.

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Take a walk with your students over the course of one season (Fall, Spring, Winter) or throughout the school year. These walks can be around the schoolyard, on a local nature trail, or on a safe sidewalk in the neighborhood.  As you walk, instruct students to take time to use their senses one at a time to gather information about the environment. Start the walk by feeling the temperature of the air. Invite children to describe the temperature and the moisture in the air. Model age-appropriate vocabulary used to describe these environmental features. Ask students to use all their senses (eyes, ears, nose), as much as possible without any talking.

Then focus on touch and feeling. Initially focus on touching things in the environment. You may wish to plan ahead for this part so that students are near a pile of leaves, a snowy slope, or a puddle so students have something specific to touch. 

At the end of the walk, discuss once more how your body feels. 

• Do you feel warm? 
• Do you feel cold? 
• Do you feel energized? 
• Do you feel tired? 
• Talk about the physical effects and benefits of taking walks.