National Get Outdoors Day

June 14, 2008 is National Get Outdoors Day. Join in on the celebration and encourage your kids to explore the great outdoors. Many local or state parks are hosting special outdoor recreation programs this weekend.

Project Learning Tree’s “Get in Touch with Trees” is a great activity for kids to discover nature through their sense of touch. This activity can be done in a group setting or individually. Incorporate other senses by asking, “What does the object smell like?” and “What does the object sound like when you scratch it with your fingernail?”

For additional ideas on introducing nature with children, refer to the book Sharing Nature With Children by Joseph Cornell.

Book List
Grades PreK-2
Baker, J. 2004. Home. Greenwillow.
Baylor, B. 1978. The Other Way to Listen. Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Baylor, B. 1979. Your Own Best Secret Place. Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Baylor, B. 1985. Everybody Needs a Rock. Aladdin.
Brandenberg, A.1991. My Five Senses. HarperCollins Publishers.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. Morrow Avon.
Bunting, E. 1996. Secret Place. Clarion Books.
Cappetta, C. 2001. Animal Patterns. Innovative Kids.
Carlstrom, N. 1987. Wild, Wild, Sunflower Child Anna. MacMillan.
Davis, C. 1993. Creatures at My Feet. Northland Publishing.
Fife, D. 1996. The Empty Lot. Sagebrush Education Resources.
George, K. 2007. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion.
Graff, N. 1998. In the Hush of the Evening. HarperCollins.
Greenaway, T. 1992. Tree Life. DK Children.
Hammerstrom, F. 1975. Walk When the Moon is Full. Crossing Press.
Hoban, T. 1985. Is it Rough? Is it Smooth? Is It Shiny?. Greenwillow Books.
La Marche, J. 2002. A Story for Bear. Harcourt, Inc.,
Lionni, L. 2004. A Busy Year. David McKay Company.
MacLachlan, P. 1994. All the Places to Love. Joanna Cotler.
Manson, C. 1993. The Tree in the Wood. North-South.
Manushkin, F. 1994. Peeping and Sleeping. Clarion Books.
Martin, B. and Archambault, J. 1988. Listen to the Rain. Henry Holt and Co.
Miller, D. 2002. Are Trees Alive?. Walker Books for Young Readers.
Miller, M. 1998. My Five Senses. Simon & Schuster.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin Company.
Muller, G. 1994. Around the Oak. Dutton Juvenile.
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees?. William R. Scott Publishers.
Ryder, J. 1991. Hello Tree! Lodestar Publishers.
Ryder, J. 1998. Step into the Night. Four Winds Press.
Rylant, C. 1991. Night in the Country. Aladdin.
Sanders, S. 1997. Meeting Trees. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Stockdale, S. 1999. Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Grades 3-5
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot’s Guide to Walking in Wild Places. Aladdin.
Baylor, B. 1978. The Other Way to Listen. Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Baylor, B. 1979. Your Own Best Secret Place. Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Berger, M. 1995. Animal Senses. Newbridge.
Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Place in a Tree. Morrow Avon.
Bouchard, D. 1996. Voices From the Wild-An Animal Sensagoria. Chronicle Books.
Burns, D. 1998. Trees, Leaves, and Bark. Northwoods Press.
DiSalvo-Ryan, D. 1994. City Green. HarperCollins Publishers.
Fife, D. 1996. The Empty Lot. Sierra Club Books for Children.
George, K. 1998. Old Elm Speaks. Clarion.
Graff, N. 1998. In the Hush of the Evening. HarperCollins.
Greenaway, T. 1992. Tree Life. DK Publishing.
Manson, C. 1993. The Tree in the Wood. North South Books.
Manushkin, F. 1994. Peeping and Sleeping. Clarion Books.
Miller, D. 2002. Are Trees Alive?. Walker Books for Young Readers.
Morrison, G. 2008. Nature in the Neighborhood. Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin Company.
Muller, G. 1994. Around the Oak. Dutton Juvenile.
Nayer, J. 1994. My Five Senses: A Lion’s Tale. Sundance
Oppenheim, J. 1967. Have You Seen Trees? William R. Scott Publishers.
Ryder, J. 1998. Step into the Night. Four Winds Press.
Rylant, C. 1991. Night in the Country. Aladdin.
Sanders, S. 1997. Meeting Trees. National Geographic Children’s Books.
Silverstein, S. 1964. The Giving Tree. Harper Collins.
Stockdale, S. 1999. Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You. Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Grades 6-8
Beard, D.C. 2001. The Field and Forest Handy Book: New Ideas for Out of Doors. Godine, David R.