Overview

Spring temperatures are warming up, and we’re about to take learning to the next level! Creating an outdoor classroom is a fun and imaginative way to engage students in learning about nature and the world around us. Educators have been using the outdoors to teach for years and the results clear – outdoor classrooms and learning spaces can improve student attention, cognitive ability and creativity, and have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Outdoor classrooms can take place in a traditional open playground, a designated area built on the black top or an indoor courtyard. Keep it simple and focus on the big picture of supporting students in being active in diverse learning environments.

Creating an Outdoor Classroom

Scout out some flexible space and get started with these simple and easy tips. Remember – safety and organization is key to allow for planned activities as well as free time for exploration.

Step 1: Determine a teaching or meeting location for your class to regularly connect.

Assess the chosen location to determine if any clean up is necessary for students to learn and move around safely. Check for debris and potential hazards, and consider other potential necessities such as shade, access to drinkable water, and emergency first aid materials.

Looking for some affordable seating solutions? Logs, boulders and wooden benches can provide simple, flexible and reusable seating options for students of all ages. Want to get even more creative? Dig out your paint set and brushes and allow students to create colorful designs on each seat.

Consider creating and hanging some student-led signage to let visitors know about the outdoor classroom and to identify the core values of the space. Grab some reclaimed wood and get to painting!

Step 2: Choose the focus of your outdoor classroom.

Dramatic play? Games? Math? Creative writing? Mindfulness? Science? These are just a few of the themes and units that teachers can focus on in an outdoor learning space. Be flexible enough to meet the needs of teachers and students, and connect it to the culture and values of the school community. Start with a few simple themes and build from there.

Step 3: Choose your learning materials, and secure a storage location.

Get innovative with fun manipulatives and equipment to provide a well-rounded experience. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Dramatic Play – Grab some recycled boxes, markers, paint and fabric scraps to create a stage and scenic materials.
• Games – Look around for nature-inspired materials such as logs, stones and open spaces to incorporate movement to improve gross motor skills such as jumping, hoping, skipping and leaping.
• Math – Invite students to collect nature items and use math to indicate their size, quantity or length. Determine the shapes of the collected objects and identify the shapes most commonly found in nature.
• Creative Writing – Ask students to sketch a scene, outline a poem, or create a story based on the nature images found or observed around them.
• Mindfulness – Join students in a walking or seated mediation activity around the outdoor classroom. Ask students to walk or sit quietly and notice the sensations in their body as well as the sights and sounds around them. Encourage nice deep belly breaths! Invite students to journal or share about their experience after the activity.
• Science – Invite students to observe, investigate, compare and contrast, classify, and analyze elements and items found in the outdoor classroom. Search for bug habitats or plan a garden that incorporates plants native to your school’s climate and habitat.