Megan Zeni is a Master Gardener, PhD student and school garden expert who works for the Richmond School District.  In today's episode, she shares with us some of her best secrets and tips on how to set up core routines with her learners at the beginning of the year (such as the Waiting Tree, to help with exit and entry transitions!). 

Megan is a strong advocate for outdoor learning because it supports learners having a positive growth mindset, develops patience and promotes equity.  It allows learners, who may struggle to represent their learning in a “traditional” way , to move freely and make decisions that are best suited for them, which in turn, provides them with more autonomy over their learning, 

One of my favourite insights that Megan shares with us is how she explicitly introduces activities that can turn into station work. This gradual release of responsibility highlights how important classroom management strategies are, both indoors and outdoors! 

Megan also gives us some suggestions on how to use outdoor learning spaces for when fall transitions into winter.  Have you ever thought of having a 'Bug Hotel'?! Or a Mud Kitchen – link here. https://meganzeni.com/build-a-mud-kitchen/

Novelty Nature Notes:

I shared about inchworms because I’m just getting covered in them when I go walking in the forest lately.  They also go by other names, such as measuring worm, oak looper, leaf roller, and spring cankerworms.  I was reading that they are only here for about 4-5 weeks before they burrow into the ground and then we’ll see them again in the fall as geometer moths.

Megan shared about growing corn with her learners.  They plant POPCORN! Have you ever noticed that each silk thread is attached to a kernel of corn - if there are kernels missing, then the silk wasn't pollinated by a bee!