The benefits of taking learning outside are well-documented. Many of them are discussed in this video out of Scotland, where outdoor learning is a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Still, from day to day, the prospect of transitioning outside for a lesson might not seem worth the trouble. Be encouraged by colleagues who have found, through trial and error, that the most meaningful and worthwhile learning experiences are not necessarily the easiest, and vise versa. Here are some of their tips:
- Always review the expectations and procedures for learning outdoors before going outside. It will take time and repetition for students to realize that going outside does not necessarily mean recess.
- Related to that, start simple - The first lesson of the year should be something simple like a scavenger hunt to get them familiar with their surrounds and help them to learn the rules and boundaries.
- When talking with a group, align them so the sun is in your eyes, not theirs.
- When taking a walk with a group, walk ahead of them in a line. At a stopping point, walk halfway back along the line of students and instruct them to make a quarter turn towards you. Now all of your students can see you and hear you well.
- Anticipate distractions and be flexible accordingly. Your students may not be able to stay focused on the lesson when the pre-schoolers are having their track and field day at the same time. I have had to move the class to a different location because a utility truck unexpectedly pulled up on the pavement where we were. At another time, my class was having a quiet, reflective moment when an air force troop carrier flew over. Stay calm and lighthearted; be flexible rather than discouraged!
- For a more involved outdoor activity, recruit volunteers (parent, school mentor, local university students, or friend) as you would for an off-site field trip.
- Try team teaching - Some teachers temporarily reduce class size by making reciprocal arrangements with other teachers to take half of their class for a lesson. Be sure to repeat the project of course, this time permitting the other half of the class to participate.
- Buddy Classes - An interesting variation on team teaching that also includes aspects of cooperative learning, is a “buddy class” system that teams a lower grade class with an upper grade, matching students one-on-one for projects. Each teacher works with half of both classes at once.
- Centers - Set up centers for small groups of students to rotate through.
- Have an outdoor education depot in a closet or a corner of the hallway. In it can be stored some outdoor learning essentials:
- a class set of yoga mats for students to sit on outside. With yoga mats, wet grass, ants or gravel are no longer a barrier to taking the class outdoors.
- a class set of clipboards.
- a cart or crate on wheels for the teacher's supplies
- a pencil case with extra pencils and erasers. You know someone is going to come outside without them!
- Make a base - Find an area to designate as base. Tell students that, when they hear your signal, they should all be back on base ready to listen to the next set of instructions.
- At your base or your outdoor destination, indicate in the grass with a string or onto the pavement with chalk a half circle (I use the three-point line on the outdoor basketball court). Tell students to line up their yoga mats along that line like sun rays. Now they are seated before you in a manageable arrangement.
- Again, be flexible, and use teachable moments. The students may get distracted from the lesson you intend to teach. They are making discoveries of their own. When it is something the whole class might benefit from, take a moment to discuss it with the group and then refocus.
Some outdoor lessons will go better than others! With these tips and with experience, your class will benefit more and more from the fresh air, experiential and place-based learning that outdoor learning affords.
(Many of these tips were found at www.teachingandlearningoutside.org)
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