We know that open-ended natural play has tremendous benefits to the personal, social, creative, emotional and intellectual well being of the children in our care. And, we know that all these benefits aren’t easily measured or sometimes seen. To better understand the...
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Natural Pod - Share Your Invitation to Play ~ Win a Free $5000 Classroom contest. We’re reviewing all the final entries and going over the entry data to ensure every submission that made it into the top group did so with...
A ministry of Mariners Church, Mariners Church Preschool is designed to meet the needs of the whole child by creating environments and experiences where a love of faith is fostered. Best practices are used to design and plan their curriculum, helping to develop...
Recent research respondents were asked if their classroom environment is conducive to 21st-century learning, which was described in the survey as “learning that includes collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving.” The types of...
These days, those of us who care about the well-being of children can be deeply concerned about the effects of technology. It can seem like tech does not have a place in environmental education when students are already struggling with screen addictions. Doesn’t tech...
With educators courageously trying to teach children remotely, it may reassure parents that supporting their children’s learning at home making it visible doesn’t need to be a recreation of the structure of school. Academic subjects are of course important, but if you...
In the dynamic realm of educational design, the importance of creating tranquil, inspiring spaces cannot be overstated. Recent research sheds light on the profound influence of classroom environments on the well-being of both learners and educators, prompting...
Sustainability and student equality are interlinked; one cannot succeed without the other. Sustainability in education is not only about being green, but lives at the intersection of ecological, economic and social sustainability; it’s that combination that has the...
Before we dive into all the transformative things that happen at the Green Schools Conference and Expo, let's recap on what the conference is about. It is an annual two day event that brings together all the players involved in making green schools a reality; that is...
COVID-19 has changed our world in many ways. How we shop, work, govern, and attend school have all been altered due to this global pandemic. Education has been hit particularly hard. Closing out the 2019 – 2020 school year was a chaotic and disjointed effort for most...
The Natural Pod team and myself are, and always will be, committed to creating the most healthy and beautiful learning spaces that welcome and inspire students and educators. As technology like AI transforms the world in ways that we’ve still yet to realize, I truly...
In his book ‘Brain Rules’ (2014), John Medina talks about 12 rules that support the needs of the brain. There are three rules that stand out for me: that we learn best through sensory experiences; we don’t learn if we are bored, and we are born natural explorers. As...
As the dog days of summer linger, many educators find themselves in a race against time to prepare their learning spaces for the upcoming academic year. For those who haven't yet ordered new furniture for updating existing classrooms or creating entirely new learning...
In every aspect of life, choice empowers and personalizes our experience. Consider the flexibility of a modern workspace where people choose between high-energy shared tables, quiet corners for deep thinking, or dynamic meeting rooms for collaborative projects. This...
Transforming your classroom layout should be an exciting opportunity for innovation, not a cause for concern about the durability of your furniture. At Natural Pod, we design durable, multifunctional furniture that facilitates seamless transitions and supports diverse...
The return to school is just around the corner, and it's a time filled with excitement as well as a flurry of preparations for educators and administrators. As you tackle the challenge of planning for the next year, we’re here to ensure your classroom...
Bridgitte Alomes, founder of Natural Pod learning furniture, joins the ONEder podcast to advocate for creating healthy, sustainable and intentional learning environments for children. Inspired by her son's allergic reaction to toxic chemicals in a toy, Bridgitte...
Tasked recently with creating a furniture budget for your learning environment? There are probably 100 other things you need to be doing, and it’s likely been a while since you’ve had to do this (if ever at all). That might seem overwhelming, especially if you’ve...
Already thinking about how your learning environment will influence student engagement next year? Your mind is fresh with what’s working—and what’s not—and now may be the perfect time to cement some plans for September. We’ve found this is actually one of the best...
At Natural Pod, our mission is to create learning environments where educators and students can thrive. We offer a range of beautiful, functional, and interchangeable learning furniture designed to support educators and students in the ways they teach and learn best....