. Cynthia Freeman, a teacher at Dowling Urban Elementary School in Minneapolis, Minnesota shares her top ten tips and tricks for teaching outdoors and connecting Elementary-aged students with nature. Curriculum: Curriculum is one of the most important aspect in ECE. Model cleanliness habits by keeping the storage and play spaces tidy. Love the article – and resources – my only concern is re Birds and Worms – most earthworms have been introduced in Canada and Northern US by Europeans – They are spread by humans throwing yard waste into natural areas and are considered a harmful invasive species (in nature). Ms. Whitehead and I also held another workshop which included tips for success with outdoor learning, a teacher’s perspective, and an introduction to the outdoor exploration backpack program. Design strategies such as nature walks, bioswales, outdoor classrooms, and vegetable gardens provide learning experiences not achievable in traditional classroom settings, and also accommodate a variety of learning styles (hands-on, peer-to-peer, etc.). Nancy Peterson and Annie Oxarart with Florida Project Learning Tree provided instruction in PLT’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guideand GreenSchools training. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and co-founder of the Children and Nature Network, coined the term “nature-deficit disorder,” which refers to children’s growing lack of exposure to nature. Littlewood was able to receive assistance from: 5. The vision of the Outdoor Classroom is based on the premise that anything you can do indoors, you can probably do outdoors as well. They are a great meeting point. The conference explored how to create successful outdoor learners. View the North American Association for Environmental Education’s recording of a panel of experts (outdoor educators, administrators, and a pediatrician) who share the hows and whys around outdoor learning as a response to reopening in this uncertain time. grant from Project Learning Tree. Mindfulness in the outdoor classroom is an excellent way to gain insight into your students abilities to monitor focus and the perfect way to start any outdoor lesson you have in mind. Thanks for your suggestion! Outdoor Learning for Math Write math problems (for example, 2 + 4) on the ground with sidewalk chalk and have your students find pinecones, rocks or leaves to represent the answer. These top ten tips and tricks for preschool educators are sure to keep both students and educators engaged and excited to learn outside. Experience in the field and child development research alike are showing that all children need and benefit from more time outdoors; it is critical for their health, self-concept, and future school success. To help teachers take maximum advantage of the outdoor classroom, myself and Ms. Whitehead, a Littlewood teacher, organized teacher trainings for them. An outdoor classroom, or one that places a strong emphasis on nature, is the perfect place for the “whole child” to thrive. But as Project Learning Tree educators know all-too-well, taking lessons outdoors offers many more benefits than just increased ventilation and space for social distancing — numerous studies show that students are more engaged and enjoy subject materials more when they are taught outside! Part of the Outdoor Classroom's vision is that indoor and outdoor spaces constitute a single learning environment. The Outdoor Classroom believes, "Everything you can do indoors, you can do outdoors, and even more!" Outdoor Infrastructure Planning Strategies for Taking Learning Outside as Schools Reopen In the field, students can use mobile devices—including ones they already own—to engage in learning activities. Students are thrilled to find that they can make paper and that their product is practical, as well as beautiful. An outdoor classroom is a great place for children to learn new vocabulary words and to document their learning experiences. According to Orfalea, “ The Outdoor Classroom Project is a critical quality improvement initiative that improves not only the quality of outdoor environments and programs but the entire functioning of an ECE center. 6. 626-296-1770. 4. Get buy-in. In this special feature article from the Children & Nature Network, author Jay Walljasper paints a picture of what Back-to-School 2020 could like all across America—with green schoolyards offering a safer, more equitable middle ground in the wrenching decisions over in-person vs. online instruction. Challenge your kids to see how many triangles they can make with 9 sticks. Use sidewalk chalk to create a grid where your kids can count and sort objects. Students at the Millennium School in San Francisco gather outside. 4. Or, click here to find your regional U.S. Forest Service Conservation Education Coordinator who can put you in touch with local outreach educators. Try flipping your approach to weather: Only go indoors during inclement weather. La Cañada, CA 91011 A n outdoor classroom is an outdoor educational facility that can be developed into a natural study grounds for educa-tors, students and anyone interested in the natural environ-ment. Ms. Whitehead and I also held another workshop which included tips for success with outdoor learning, a tea… The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective tools to increase capacity with physical distancing measures in place. There is a lot to consider for teachers taking students outdoors for the first time. North American Association for Environmental Education’s eeGuidance for Reopening Schools: Focus on Forests and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation joined forces to outline a helpful guide to inspire educators to get started on an outdoor classroom with tips for ways to create strong funding applications to support. Recent data shows that kids spend at least two hours in front of screens each day. Outdoor classroom could be described as outdoor learning space that provides varying experiences and learning activities that could enhance students’ learning performances, particularly in Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach. The Reggio Emilia approach involves child-led learning that offers multiple sensory experiences for youngsters to express themselves and grow.. “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”, THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROJECT® IS AN initiative of the Child Educational Center. Develop a Green Team of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and volunteers who can help with the project. The engagement and communication skills teachers are taught transfer into everything that a … Want a little more inspiration to help you get started on an outdoor classroom for your school? If your climate permits during some or all seasons, consider developing an outdoor classroom. PLT’s Top Ten Tips for Teaching Outside – Middle and High School:   By committing to learning both inside and outside the classroom, schools are able to teach … The highlighted activities include: Here are some tips and lessons learned along the way: 1. Whether your move to hold classes in nature is mandated, suggested, or entirely optional, we encourage you to consider the following tips from seasoned educators in Florida who reinvigorated student learning by creating outdoor classrooms: Students at Littlewood Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida enjoy their outdoor classroom, thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and a GreenWorks! Teachers are thrilled to have this outdoor space where students can be immersed in learning about nature. Tips from educators for teaching about the environment. 3. The end result will be well worth it! Students investigate the papermaking process by trying it themselves. When I started the school’s Green Team with Littlewood teacher Ms. Whitehead, we worked together to involve other teachers and the school’s administration as we developed plans for the outdoor classroom. Key among these changes has been a significantly reduced amount of time spent outdoors, which is linked to a number of other detrimental trends. Luisa Richardson. This multi-disciplinary approach is based on extensive research and field testing. the outdoor environment encourages staff and students to see each other in a different light, building positive relationships and improving self-awareness and understanding of others. Are my students ready to try mindfulness outdoors? Engage volunteers. As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted countless traditional learning environments, many schools and educators have begun to move classes outdoors. Advances in technology make it relatively easy for students to bring digital technology with them when they leave the classroom, or for instructors to bring the outdoor learning environment into the classroom. An outdoor classroom provides a sheltered spot in the windy or wet weather, and a shaded area in the hot and sunny weather, meaning that lessons can take place outside all year round. Nancy Peterson and Annie Oxarart with Florida Project Learning Tree provided instruction from PLT’s PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide and GreenSchools Investigations Guide. We infuse our classroom curriculum with our outdoor experiences by. Most early childhood programs are required to have outdoor play yards. Outdoor classrooms also provide alter- Deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Outdoor play theorists Mc Millan and Isaacs appeared to have already known in their time why outdoor play was important and in particular the connections between physical activity and health. The backpack materials feature some of PLT’s most popular activities to do outdoors, along with student pages and other supporting resources. © 2019, SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE® The environment is instrumental in a child’s educational experience. The Outdoor Classroom Project’s goal is to educate teachers, administrators, and parents about the value of outdoor play for children’s development, and help child care centers cultivate stimulating outdoor environments and activities at their sites. an outdoor classroom or outdoor learning facility. But many teachers are uncomfortable with the idea or hesitant to try it out. Both indoor and outdoor classroom environments are composed with thought and intention to create safe, comfortable, and inspiring opportunities for learning where children feel free to explore, create, … So the Birds and Worms activity could be more accurate for bioregional literacy if it had a piece on native vs. introduced species – maybe be Birds and ???. Assemble a team. Turning Education Inside Out: How Green Schoolyards Can Help Make Schools Safer This Fall—and Improve Kids’ Lives Permanently Taking the curriculum outside can improve attainment, increase engagement, and develop a wide range of skills including problem solving, communication and resilience. Reach out to parents and community members to find volunteers who can assist with the outdoor classroom plan. American families are staying inside more, according to a Nature Conservancy poll that found only 10% of kids spend time outside every day. approach to learning are at the core of outdoor pedagogy. Your email address will not be published. 2121 K ST NW, SUITE 750, WASHINGTON, DC 20037 | 202-765-3641 | 80-0030060. PLT’s Top Ten Tips for Teaching Outside – Early Childhood: We are exploring how outdoor science and real world learning can help learners understand the fundamental concepts of science and sustainable development, and demonstrate practical methods of teaching and learning based on the outdoor classroom. Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms provides the why and how in an accessible format that any educational leader can use to transform the learning environment at their school site. Try these enrichments for Project Learning Tree’s Poet-Tree activity. Thanks Luisa, we really appreciate your suggestion for the PLT activity # 25 Birds and Worms found in PLT’s PreK-8 Guide. In the classroom, instructors can use drone footage, mobile apps, and programs like Google Earth to bring outdoor environments inside, thus bringing far-away or inaccessible outdoor phenomena t… Contact Us to Learn More What do Nature Explore Classrooms Look Like? jQuery,window.fnames=new Array,window.ftypes=new Array,fnames[0]="EMAIL",ftypes[0]="email",fnames[1]="FNAME",ftypes[1]="text",fnames[2]="LNAME",ftypes[2]="text",fnames[3]="ADDRESS",ftypes[3]="address",fnames[4]="PHONE",ftypes[4]="phone",fnames[5]="BIRTHDAY",ftypes[5]="birthday";var $mcj=jQuery.noConflict(!0), CONTACT US | PRIVACY POLICY | PLT IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE INC. Place sticky notes or tape note cards with new vocabulary words that correspond to objects in the outdoor classroom around the space. Together, we can transform the quality of learning experiences for children ages birth up to elementary-aged children, and set the stage for healthy habits in early childhood programs everywhere. PLT’s Top Ten Tips for Teaching Outside – Middle and High School: PLT activity # 25 Birds and Worms found in PLT’s PreK-8 Guide, An Easy-to-Make Model that Explains the Inner Parts of a Tree, PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide – Activity 51, Make Your Own Paper. ... Project Approach, Other Topics, Play, Outdoor, Subject Areas, Science, Nature. Hear two teachers in Minnesota’s top-ten tips for beginning to teach outdoors. The outdoor classroom also offers "developmentally appropriate activities", which are activities based on the child's ability and are not forced on the child. Engage students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through the power of the written word. These experiences really helped teachers take maximum advantage of not only creating, but also using, their school’s outdoor classroom. Shelters may contain seating, chalkboards, dry wipe boards, game boards and much more. Grant opportunities. PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide, click here to find your regional U.S. Forest Service Conservation Education Coordinator, Outdoor Learning A Solution for Schools During COVID 19 Expert Panel Recording, North American Association for Environmental Education’s eeGuidance for Reopening Schools, Turning Education Inside Out: How Green Schoolyards Can Help Make Schools Safer This Fall—and Improve Kids’ Lives Permanently, Outdoor Infrastructure Planning Strategies for Taking Learning Outside as Schools Reopen, Building Outdoor Classrooms: A Guide for Successful Fundraising, PLT’s Top Ten Tips for Teaching Outside – Early Childhood, PLT’s Top Ten Tips for Teaching Outside – Elementary. The idea of teaching in outdoor spaces with covering for protection from the rain is an extremely promising one in his mind. Download tools and resources from Green Schoolyards America for assessing and configuring your outdoor classroom, including a cost estimate tool and the ability to request assistance from a landscape designer in your area. Annie Hermansen-Baez is Science Delivery/Kids in the Woods Coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service, based at the Southern Research Station in Gainesville, Florida. APPROACH. Start with approval from administrators and buy-in from teachers. Outdoor classrooms create a gathering place for children when learning outdoors. 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