Easy Tips! How to Use Wild Wonder Mail at Home & in the Classroom

Hey there, fellow adventurers!

Welcome to the enchanting world of Wild Wonder Mail!

Whether you’re a parent or a teacher, integrating these letters into daily routines can be both magical and educational. Today, we’re diving into the myriad ways you can use Wild Wonder Mail to spark curiosity, boost creativity, and enhance literacy at home and in the classroom.

The Magic of Wild Wonder Mail

Wild Wonder Mail is more than just a subscription service; it’s a monthly ticket to the greatest show on Earth—nature! Each letter is crafted to ignite the imagination, filled with tales of adventure, fascinating facts, and incredible, real life creatures. But how can you make the most of these letters? Let’s explore!

At Home: Creating a Learning Adventure

1. Morning Exploration Sessions Start the day with a dose of curiosity. Use the letters as a springboard for morning discussions. Encourage your kids to share what they’ve learned, ask questions, and express their thoughts. This not only enhances their knowledge but also boosts their confidence in speaking and sharing ideas. 

2. Themed Reading Time Pair the letters with related books. If a letter talks about the wonders of the rainforest, find a picture book or a story set in that environment. (You can also check out the Jess Keating bookshelf for tons of options!) Reading together deepens their understanding and makes learning more fun and cohesive.

3. Nature Journaling Equip your child with a nature journal. Use prompts from the letters to guide their entries. They can draw, write, or paste collected items, turning their journal into a personalized nature diary. This activity enhances both creativity and literacy skills. Want my help with this? Visit this post to learn more!

4. Crafting and Creating Often, when kids learn about nature and animals or see pictures depicting it -- they want to create their own! Set aside time for these activities, allowing your child to get hands-on. Creating something tangible reinforces what they’ve learned and provides a sense of accomplishment. Feel free to copy any of the pictures or images you find in the letters, and encourage them to draw, doodle, sketch or adapt them in any way they want in their own sketchbooks.

5. Family Discussion Nights Turn adventure into a family affair. Dedicate one night a week to discuss the latest letter. Share fun facts, learn a little extra at the library or with a book, and encourage everyone to contribute. This promotes family bonding and collective learning. Plus, it's a nice, semi-structured event that can get kids talking about what they love -- which boosts confidence!

In the Classroom: Turning Lessons into Adventures

1. Interactive Read-Alouds Start your day or lesson with a read-aloud session. Read the latest Wild Wonder Mail letter to the class. Pause to ask questions, encourage predictions, and let students discuss their thoughts. What was their favourite fact or section? Would they want to visit this place themselves? This engages them actively and makes learning interactive.

2. Research Projects Assign students topics based on the letters. They can work individually or in groups to research further, create presentations, or build some fun craft projects. This enhances their research skills and promotes teamwork, plus it's always fun to use our hands to get messy and create something new!

3. Creative Writing Prompts Use the stories and facts in the letters as writing prompts. Encourage students to write their own adventure tales, diary entries, or letters. This improves their writing skills and lets their creativity soar. Note: You can always write "Ellie" (our protagonist from your letters!) back and send them to me!

4. Art Integration Incorporate art by having students draw scenes, create dioramas, or make posters based on the letters. This not only makes learning fun but also caters to visual and kinesthetic learners. Often, free-flowing art sessions can not only increase well being in kids, but it's also a gateway to share what matters to them.

5. Science Experiments Bring science lessons to life with hands-on experiments and activities, or research a few tidbits about the animals presented and what scientists are currently doing to learn more about them. (I often give you a great starting point for this in each letter, too!) Whether it’s a simple observation task or a more complex project, these activities reinforce scientific concepts through practical experience.

The Benefits of Curiosity and Creativity

Wild Wonder Mail is downright fun to receive each month because it brings a huge dose of adventure and curiosity. But it's also a powerful educational tool.

Did you know that children who engage in hands-on learning activities, like those in Wild Wonder Mail, are 75% more likely to retain information and develop critical thinking skills?

This combination of fun and learning helps foster a lifelong love of nature and science, encouraging kids to explore the world with curiosity and creativity.

1. Enhanced Literacy Reading and discussing the letters improve vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. Writing activities foster creativity and enhance written communication skills.

2. Increased Curiosity Each letter is designed to pique interest and provoke questions. This natural curiosity drives learning, making students eager to explore and discover more.

3. Improved Creativity From crafting to creative writing, the activities encourage students to think outside the box and express themselves in new ways.

4. Emotional Connection Engaging with nature through these letters fosters a deeper emotional connection to the environment. This can lead to a lifelong appreciation and responsibility towards nature, but also helps us feel like we have a place in this world -- which is hugely beneficial to our mental health.

5. Practical Learning The storytelling and adventures provide practical learning experiences, helping students understand and retain information better.

Fun Examples to Get You Started

• The Backyard Safari: Create a letter about local wildlife to plan a backyard safari. Equip your child or students with notebooks and magnifying glasses. Let them explore, document, and discuss their findings. This makes for a fun and educational outdoor activity.
• The Crafty Diorama After reading about a specific place, have your child or students create a diorama, using research from the letter and other credible places. Use craft supplies to build a miniature environment, complete with animals and plants. This visual project reinforces their learning creatively.
• The Nature Detective Journal Turn journaling into a detective activity. Each week, read the letter to them, but leave out the destination mentioned! Help them use context clues and observations to guess where Ellie is, and then reveal the destination. Work backwards and help them 
• The Letter Writing Exchange Encourage students to write letters to each other or to pen pals about what they’ve learned from Wild Wonder Mail. This not only enhances writing skills but also builds a sense of community and shared learning. (You can also always write to Ellie!) 

Wild Wonder Mail is a treasure trove of learning opportunities, blending education with adventure. By integrating these letters into your home or classroom, you can foster a love for nature, enhance literacy, and inspire creativity in your children or students.

Embrace the magic of these letters, and watch as curiosity and wonder spark in the minds of your young explorers.

Dive into the world of Wild Wonder Mail, and let the adventures begin!

Happy exploring!

PS If there's a place you'd like Ellie to explore in our next letters, you can always suggest them here, at the bottom of this page!