by Anuk Harvey | May 14, 2019 | Inspiration
Many educators are recognizing that students sitting at rows of desks for the majority of the day while a teacher lectures at the front of the room is not optimal in developing skills that foster students’ personal growth in communication, collaboration, creativity...
by Anuk Harvey | May 14, 2019 | Inspiration
Most teachers usually have the ability to change the desk configuration of their classroom. Sometimes rows work for formal instruction. Sometimes a circular formation works to conduct a class-wide conversation or other activity. And sometimes, clusters of desks allow...
by Anuk Harvey | May 7, 2019 | Inspiration
When talking about climate change, it’s our children and their children’s children that are going to be most impacted and yet many know very little about it, if anything. So who is teaching them about it? Parents or educators? One of the first surveys of its kind was...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 25, 2019 | Inspiration
Natural Pod was born from the idea that all children should have access to natural, healthy and sustainable learning environments. We are committed to helping create spaces where educators and students feel welcomed, inspired and ultimately valued. This commitment led...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 23, 2019 | Inspiration
Researchers intentionally set out to discover whether classroom displays affected children’s ability to maintain focus during instruction and to learn the lesson content. “Young children spend a lot of time — usually the whole day — in the same classroom, and through...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 23, 2019 | Inspiration
The most common school and classroom renovations aimed to provide opportunities for flexibility and collaboration include adding chalk or whiteboard walls, collaborative work spaces and flexible furniture. This research compares teachers views on these modifications,...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 19, 2019 | Inspiration
Earth Day is a date in time where we are called to meaningfully reflect and think about ways we can all lead more sustainable lives, to do our utmost to protect this incredible planet and the life it sustains. Although ‘Earth Day’ is a highlighted...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 18, 2019 | Inspiration
To create a classroom space that is more student centered here are some guiding principles that can really increase student participation and engagement:Be more deliberate about furniture configurationThe aim is to have the flexibility to create both independent...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 18, 2019 | Inspiration
As many of you know the Green Schools 2019 Conference just took place and Natural Pod was a proud participate, exhibitor and sponsor of the event. Bridgitte Alomes, our CEO, and team were there, as always they were hugely excited by everything that is happening in the...
by Christopher Roy | Apr 11, 2019 | Careers, Inspiration
Since 2009 Natural Pod has been producing made-to-order, heirloom-quality, sustainable furniture in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. We’re growing our remote team and looking for a kind, values-driven, self-motivated Inside Sales & Operations Coordinator....
by Roxanne Abel | Apr 9, 2019 | Inspiration
For a classroom to foster 21st-century learning styles, it needs a 21st-century classroom design with multi-purpose spaces and connected learning areas that support movement, student choice, and a collaborative environment. Educators were asked to rank the importance...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 9, 2019 | Inspiration
Natural Pod’s CEO, Bridgitte Alomes, was recently requested to present a Workshop to the educators from Kinder Kampus about Natural Play and its importance. Kinder Kampus provides premium quality, learning-focused childcare for children aged 12 months to 12 years....
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 2, 2019 | Inspiration
Natural Pod is getting ready to attend The 2019 Green Schools Conference and Expo starting on April 8th in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Bridgitte Alomes, our CEO and team members are exhibiting at the conference along with many other inspiring leaders in the Green...
by Anuk Harvey | Apr 2, 2019 | Inspiration
A unique opportunity occurred where researchers were able to study whether environmental design does actually improve learning: Within the Houston area, Texas, VLK Architects had the chance to design two replacement elementary schools at the same time. Both schools...
by Anuk Harvey | Mar 26, 2019 | Inspiration
Classrooms and educational spaces come in a variety of configurations that often teachers have no control over, from traditional rectangular rooms to open plan environments. But educators are able to have a big impact on how the space is experienced by students by...
by Anuk Harvey | Mar 21, 2019 | Inspiration
Today is the ‘International Day of Forests’. Most people would not necessary know this, but it’s a meaningful reminder of some very important issues and the ways to navigate them – particularly in regards to environmental education. Every 21...
by Anuk Harvey | Mar 19, 2019 | Inspiration
Teachers who work in schools where recent construction or renovations were completed were asked to grade the outcome of the changes through various focus areas: the impact on school culture, student retention, student engagement, staff relationships, classroom...
by Anuk Harvey | Mar 12, 2019 | Inspiration
We recently had the pleasure of receiving an update from the amazing MU Early Education STEAM Center, located on the campus of Marshall University in West Virginia – showing how their Natural Pod learning environment is supporting their program. The program at...
by Anuk Harvey | Mar 5, 2019 | Inspiration
Most large school districts serve high density/high growth areas and have a continuing need for new construction or renovation within their schools to keep pace with the growing student population. But the reality is many districts, mainly due to funding...
by Anuk Harvey | Feb 13, 2019 | Inspiration
Recent research has been examining the connection between learning environments and learning outcomes: A team consisting of a pioneering designer, a design educator, and a researcher have worked to ‘prove’ that the design of learning places matter. Mounting...
How To Create a 21st Century Classroom
Research: How Often Do Teachers Change Their Classroom Configuration?
Should Parents Or Educators Be Teaching Climate Change?
Create Agile Learning Spaces With Our New ‘Pacific Series Shelving’
Heavily Decorated Classrooms Disrupt Learning
Research: Renovating Schools for Flexibility and Collaboration
Earth Day, Every Day
How To Make Your Classroom More Student Centered
The Green Schools 2019 Conference Take Aways
We’re Hiring – Administrative Support
Research: Do Teachers Want Flexible Collaborative Classrooms?
A Natural Play Workshop At Kinder Kampus
Join Us at the 2019 Green Schools Conference & Expo
Research: How Does School Design Impact Students?
Who Should Decide Who Sits Where, Students Or Teachers?