Something amazing recently happened at my school! The parent fundraising committee raised money for an outdoor classroom with benches, picnic tables, and even a learning gazebo! I’m so excited about this addition and love mixing outdoor learning with enriching ideas.
This inspiring project has motivated me to share some of my favorite ways to bring learning outside, even if you don’t have a designated outdoor space yet.
There are so many benefits to exploring nature with your students, and I hope these ideas spark your creativity or help you find new ways to make outdoor learning work for your class!
The Benefits of Outdoor Learning
Fresh air makes a world of difference. I immediately feel calmer when I go outside in nature. And the fact is, the outdoors give an amazing mental health boost to both students and teachers alike.
During the height of the pandemic, many schools turned to the outdoors to stay safe. It was a great move that goes far beyond getting creative with social distancing! Experts have found that, for kids, being outdoors actually increases focus and self-regulation— meaning not only do students FEEL better, but they have fewer behavior problems and more positive social interactions.
You may already know the statistics about how important recess and outdoor free time is for child development and problem-solving skills, but did you know that we can build some lifelong beneficial academic skills through enriching outdoor experiences? There are lots of great ways to hit those learning targets outside with your students.
Bringing Learning Outside, No Special Space Needed
Our school is making a big investment in an outdoor learning space, but we all know teachers are used to doing more with less! So if you are enjoying the nice weather and just itching to get outside, feel free to keep it simple!
Think:
- 5 -gallon buckets or milk crates to carry supplies AND flip over for individual seating.
- Sidewalk chalk for writing and art experiences
- Clipboards to take the place of table tops
- Use nature itself to take the lead in sensory, scientific, and mathematic learning
There are a ton of things you’re likely already doing in your classroom right now that can easily be done outside like:
- Read-Alouds
- Classroom Meetings and Social Games
- Partner Work
- Scavenger Hunts
- Sensory and Dramatic Play
- Science Stations
- Art Activities
- Writing, Math, and Science Journals
- Gallery Walks
- Music Education
- Gathering and Grouping Activities
And so much more!
To Make the Most of Outdoor Learning, Preparation is Key
Whether you’re preparing students for weather, or setting up routines and structures for your outdoor learning time, you’ll want to front load your students with what to expect from this learning experience, and set your own expectations for how to make the most of your time outdoors. This ensures that down the road, even if you decide to head outside on the fly, you and your students are well-equipped to make the most of it!
Outdoor Classroom Resources to Get You Started
Looking for some easy activities? Here are a few ideas:
Outdoor Literacy Activities
Bringing literacy outside can be so much more than having your students read outside. Check out these easy-to-implement ideas.
Seasonal Writing
Inspire your students by getting them writing in nature with these Spring Writer’s Workshop Activities. Learn more about using seasonal resources to keep students motivated to write.
Word Relay Race
Students will get some exercise (burn off that energy) while practicing high frequency words during this word relay race.
Stick & Leaf Story
A fun outdoor story-writing activity: have students choose a found stick or leaf and use it to create a unique character and story, blending nature and imagination in their writing.
Adjective Scavenger Hunt
Extend adjective practice with an outdoor scavenger hunt!
Science – Plant Study
Bring your Literacy and Science Curriculum outside with this Plants Unit. Even better if you have a community or school garden nearby. Don’t forget to include these freebie Interactive notebook pages.
Read more about easy plant science here.
Outdoor Math Activities
Even math can be taught in the great outdoors!
Hands-on Place Value
Use nature-found or easy to transport objects to create a hands-on place value chart.
Quiz-Quiz-Trade
In this fun activity, students quiz each other on addition or subtraction facts, swap cards, and then “gallop” or “skip”, etc…, to their next partner, following the playful directions on the cards.
Measuring Outdoors
Stretch those legs and take your measurement activities outside. Students will find nature objects, a flower for example, to both estimate and measure. This helps kids naturally expend some energy while still practicing math skills.
Symmetry Sticks
Combine art and math in this activity where students use sticks to create symmetrical designs.
Ready to Take Outdoor Learning to the Next Level?
All the ideas and resources you’ve discovered here are just the beginning. For only $1, you can access even more outdoor learning activities, printable resources, and step-by-step guides in the All Access library. Start exploring today!
