As someone with a background in biology, the first places I would think to go for scientific inquiry experiences is outside or in a lab. Next would be the kitchen. Need some easy kitchen science experiment ideas? Head inside -->
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Integrating classroom current events, whether the class focuses on social studies, art, science, math, or any other subject, is essential for 21st century learners. Classroom current events bring an important component of experiential learning to life.
Applying current events to your learning curriculum adds real-world context to learning, making the experiences deeper and more meaningful to students. 
I often get asked about tips for helping students build self-direction skills. Teachers commonly enter the world of student-led learning inspired and confident but quickly discover that many of their students are unable to self-direct, and that can be frustrating not just for you but for your students as well.
 We’ve found ourselves as teachers and parents, again, at a technological crossroads. AI is here and it’s coming on strong. You can ask yourself, as we always do when new tech starts making waves, whether you’re going to be that school, teacher, or parent that embraces the application of AI in education or tries to fight it.
I am going to encourage you, especially as the innovative educators that you are, to do the former. Let’s talk about why. 
Teaching 21st-century skills is essential for 21st-century learners. That is the truth of it. Content knowledge is important, but soft skills are as well. As the world around us transforms, the value of and need for particular skills shifts.
The benefits of educational through travel are invaluable. I have seen the impact that travel has on students from school travel groups, traveling homeschool families, and youth groups. I have experienced this impact personally and have watched how travel has affected my own children.
 What are 21st century skills in education and why are 21st century skills important for 21st-century learners? In short, soft skills are essential for modern day life and the workplace. Therefore, teaching 21st century skills, in my opinion, is as important as teaching content. But why?
Let me paint you a little picture...  Project-based learning in schools is taking the world by storm. Student-led project-based learning in particular could revolutionize education as we know it, instilling in learners a lifelong passion for learning and preparing them for the future.
But can this transformation happen if student-led PBL operates inside a vacuum; inside one classroom, facilitated by only one teacher in a school of 20 teachers? Likely, not. So I encourage the scaling of student-led project-based learning schools, and WHY is the focus of this post.  Experiential learning is awesome all of the time, but experiential fall learning activities are favorites.
Fall is unique in so many ways. The weather begins to change, wildlife prepares for winter, many farmers harvest their crops, seasonal illnesses begin to creep in (not my favorite), kids gear up for winter sports, fall flavors make a brief appearance, and the holiday season comes on strong.  I pride myself in creating classroom culture in my experiential learning community that is strong, positive, and trusting.
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Blog IntentTo provide innovative educational resources for educators, parents, and students, that go beyond lecture and worksheets. AuthorSara Segar, experiential life-science educator and advisor, curriculum writer, and mother of two. 
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