This photo was taken recently up in Pelican Lake, WI near Rhinelander. This is a place I visit a few times each year. Although the weather is warm and feels like summer still, the colors of the leaves and trees up in this area are rapidly changing. While taking a walk here, I not only admired the looks of the leaves and trees, but I also thought about how to relate this to environmental education. I believe there are multiple ways to involve students in this type of setting. First of all, a teacher could encourage students to use a setting like this as a "sit-spot." If they are ever feeling down, or just need to take a break, they could take a walk to a forest or trail such as this one.
Also, as a teacher, there are several ways I could make connections to my students using this. First, we could take a walk as a class to use as a study break. We also could start a class observation or documentation in the fall. Beginning in about mid-September or early October, we could take several short walks outside and students could begin journaling about what they see and the color of the trees. Students could mark each entry with a date, and predict what colors the leaves will change on a given date. Living in Wisconsin is great for teachers and environmental education, as the changing seasons offer opportunities for learning.
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