![Two learners observe the Sun with a solarscope in a grassy field](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/splashy_hero_large/public/exsci_space_promo_2019_20181018_1032_edit.jpg?h=81faf404&itok=1Tx7Bmw4)
Outside Activities
Activities and Programs
![A young learner in a grassy field safely observes an image of the Sun being projected on a solarscope using the Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Sun activity.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20181018_1057.jpg?h=2b5cd828&itok=rwKBEqtA)
Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Sun
![The near side of the Moon, as seen by the cameras aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft (NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University, 2017)](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/moon_lro_credit-_nasa-gsfc-arizona_state_university2017.jpg?h=549d8674&itok=ilv8hD8B)
Exploring the Solar System: Observe the Moon
![Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow activity image of a mother and girl holding a flashlight representing the sun](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/bs1-L.jpg?h=a31ffb6c&itok=HFqAc0XZ)
Exploring Earth: Bear’s Shadow
![A family of three crafts their rockets out of paper, stickers and tape](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_2223.jpg?h=9434c9bd&itok=K7jUTk8L)
Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets
![A group of learners observing a cloud that was made in a plastic bottle](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/ExSci_Space_Promo_20160717_1416-XL.jpg?h=69f2b9d0&itok=CfnH16LN)
Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds
![Family using thermometer to take temperature of their arm for the Heat Map activity](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/ExSci_Space_20180929_1950.jpg?h=d3251556&itok=MHj6xU6d)
Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping
![Photo of person pouring water on soil and sand to demonstrate erosion](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/land_activity.jpg?h=dd99b896&itok=we6abGF7)
Exploring Earth: Land Cover
![Learner investigates the crater made in the sand after dropping a weight into the sand box](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/exsci_space_craters_activity.png?h=9e6c9da4&itok=RpZIqLlV)
Exploring the Solar System: Craters
![A facilitator loads a small plastic tube with fizzing solution that will pop the cap off in front of an audience of learners](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/_T3B8208.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=mR86OF-G)
Rocket Reactions
![Facilitator and young learner squeeze colored water into a dish](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/exsci_space_20191008_1133.jpg?h=af3b1fc5&itok=_iEP1HCn)
Exploring Science Practices: Early Explorations
![Big Sun Small Moon activity with children explores the concept of apparent size and allows visitors to experience this phenomena using familiar objects - a tennis ball and a beach ball](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2023-12/big_sun_small_moon_activity_with_children_explores_the_concept_of_apparent_size_and_allows_visitors_to_experience_this_phenomena_using_familiar_objects_-_a_tennis_ball_and_a_beach_ball_2.jpg?h=1907b506&itok=xQCjeuZi)
Exploring the Solar System: Big Sun, Small Moon
Group Activities that Can be Played Outside
![Ready Set Self Assemble children holding hands](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-02/ready_set_self_assemble_acitivity_with_children_holding_hands_readysetsa_photo_2of3_dec09.jpg?h=64708dde&itok=yjmKOAg_)
Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly
![Ready Set Self Assemble children holding hands](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-02/ready_set_self_assemble_acitivity_with_children_holding_hands_readysetsa_photo_1of3_dec09.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=R9C-b9qz)
Ready, Set, Self-Assemble
![Visitors line up by size in Get in Order - large size powers of 10 cards featuring a pea plant card](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-11/Get%20in%20Order%20-%20large%20size%20powers%20of%2010%20cards%2020151111_1040.jpg?h=265e640d&itok=VYvT6wN7)
Exploring Size - Powers of Ten Game
![Nano Around The World activity components including signs, activity materials and guides.](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/images/catalog/nano_around_the_world_kit_materials.jpg?h=c7788f4e&itok=oUiMI_BC)
Nano Around the World card game
![An overhead shot of a learner holding and comparing different theoretical technologies summarized on sheets of paper](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2022-02/You_Decide_1.jpg?h=86c214ca&itok=hPZ_XGXj)
Exploring Nano & Society - You Decide!
Astronomical Events
![An image of a lunar eclipse](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-02/lunar%20eclipse.jpg?h=9e8cc5ff&itok=CnNAOD5H)
Lunar Eclipses
![2017 solar eclipse square format](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-01/2017-solar-eclipse-square.jpg?h=2a479378&itok=w31Ah-pR)
Solar Eclipses
![Solar Eclipse ativity with young museum visitors at 2017 Science Museum of Minnesota Earth Day event](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2024-01/Solar%20Eclipse%20ativity%20with%20young%20museum%20visitors%20at%202017%20Science%20Museum%20of%20Minnesota%20Earth%20Day%20event%20credit%20Science%20Museum%20of%20Minnesota%20for%20NISE%20Network%20_T3B0605.jpg?h=f2fcf546&itok=IKk315g7)
Exploring the Solar System: Solar Eclipse
![Asteroid Bennu mosaic image taken by OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2018 Image Credit to NASA, Goddard, and University of Arizona](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2021-06/Asteroid%20Bennu%20mosaic%20image%20taken%20by%20OSIRIS-REx%20spacecraft%20in%202018%20Credit%20%20NASA%20Goddard%20University%20of%20Arizona.png?h=e5ceaf69&itok=b5R-KZew)
Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, and Meteorites
![Apollo 11 lander](https://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/styles/curated_list_large_cropped/public/2020-12/apollo%2011%20lander.jpg?h=47f36b53&itok=9ZkmUHvr)
Moon
Nature Journals and Outdoor Observations
-
Free video series from John Muir Laws and Children's Creativity Museum
https://creativity.org/nature-journal-connection/ -
John Muir Laws How to Teach Nature Journaling
https://johnmuirlaws.com/product/how-to-teach-nature-journaling/ -
International Nature Journaling Week (first week in June)
https://www.naturejournalingweek.com -
USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN)
Nature's Notebook tracking seasonal changes in plants and animals
https://usanpn.org/natures_notebook
![Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event](/sites/default/files/styles/copy_50/public/2021-10/Working%20with%20STEM%20Experts%20Guide%20cover%20including%20an%20image%20of%20expert%20%20puring%20a%20liquid%20and%20using%20a%20strainer%20with%20a%20girl%20and%20her%20family%20at%20a%20museum%20public%20event%20CREDIT%20Marbles%20Kids%20Museum%20CROPPED.jpg?itok=O819TbQo)
Finding STEM Experts
- See the "Environmental Sciences" and "Earth and Space" sections of the Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings
More Resources
- Project Learning Tree
https://www.plt.org - North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)
https://naaee.org - National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
https://www.interpnet.com - Howtosmile.org outdoor activities
https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/outdoor' - Take Me Outside (based in Canada)
https://takemeoutside.ca - Outdoor Learning professional learning opportunities
https://outdoorlearningstore.com/professional-learning/