Teachers, outdoor naturalists, and other educators often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. However, the holidays present an opportunity to bestow your thanks and gift those that give their time to kids with more than just a gift card for coffee or a local eatery. Teacher gifts can be thoughtful emotional expressions of gratitude that also enhance their profession and support the work that they do with your students. A few examples of popular, and somewhat unique, gift ideas for teachers that make a statement and leave a lasting impression include:
Top 5 Holiday Gift Ideas for Teachers:
Nature “Advice” T-Shirts:
You don’t have to wear your heart on your sleeve – you can wear a meaningful T-shirt that nature educators will truly love. Each of our “advice” shirts features humorous life lessons from The garden, Bears, Butterflies, Ladybugs, Squirrels, Deer, Owls, and even Wolves. And, there are many more to select from so you’ll be hard-pressed not to find the perfect gift that gives back.
Microscope Set:
Every nature or science classroom should have a good microscope in it, but microscopes can be expensive. That’s why educators love this set – it’s at a near-perfect balance between price and performance. It’s ideal for learning environments for younger students and provide many years of excellent educational opportunities. And with all the included accessories, it’s an even better value and one that science enthusiasts will appreciate.
A Nature Watch Gift Card:
The chain restaurants are played out and those multi-use cards are very impersonal. When you can’t decide on a specific item or would rather treat your teacher to a spending spree, opt for a Nature Watch gift card. From $10 to $200, there’s an option for every budget – and the cards are, of course, good for everything we offer.
Animal Puppets:
When teaching nature to young children, these puppets can be a great addition to many lessons. They’re extremely realistic – not to mention friendly and cute. It’s a great way to introduce little kids to animals too dangerous or wild to approach in real life. They could also be used by children in play activities, or even by older students when working with the younger ones. (Let’s face it, who doesn’t love puppets!)
Birdsong Identifier:
This little handheld gizmo is a great way to teach about chirps, bird calls, and birdsongs, or even to attract birds. It stores electronic samples of genuine birdsongs for playback and can be used for memorization games. It’s also expandable, with packs of add-on cards allowing you to increase your bird vocabulary.
Nature Watch: Your Source for Nature Themed Gift Ideas for Teachers
Tis’ the season to give a fun and unique gift to those you appreciate. Look to Nature Watch for engaging crafts, resources, activities, and books that educators will enjoy introducing into their classrooms. Our teacher resources encourage children of all ages to get in touch with their natural surroundings. With activities that foster a love of the outdoors and environmental sciences, educators trust Nature Watch to provide the most engaging crafts and accessories to make learning fun. Click here to see our full range of nature education materials, books, and other teaching tools.