Hawaiʻi Teachers Learn to Teach Outdoors

Twenty Hawaiʻi teachers gathered in Mānoa to participate in a professional development workshop focused on incorporating outdoor activities and games into their environmental education. Trees for Honolulu’s Future, Mānoa Heritage Center, and Hanafuda Hawaiʻi hosted the event, which introduced educators to games like Kumulāʻau, a card game simulating tree growth, and activities using illustrated cards of native and invasive species.

Teachers explored how to use these games to teach students about native plants, climate change, and natural resources, with a focus on Hawaiian language and cultural connections. Participants expressed excitement about bringing these interactive methods back to their classrooms, hoping to engage students with local ecosystems and reduce screen time.

Mālama Mānoa funded the workshop and provided learning materials, also offering teachers a $100 stipend. Educators like Danielle Montano of Mānoa Elementary plan to expand their lessons with new techniques learned at the workshop, including using plants for natural dyes in student projects.