Teaching Outside: Outdoor Learning for Every Classroom

The school district I live in has a fifth and sixth grade environmental school where over 50% of the school day—rain or shine, sweltering or blizzarding—is spent outdoors. My son, Jack, just started his first year there, and I can hardly begin to describe how much he is loving fifth grade so far. He comes home every day scratched, filthy, and oozing with excitement about his time in school. From going on hikes with his class, to having his teachers read aloud to students while they sit with their backs against trees, to eating lunch out in the grass, Jack cannot get enough of his time there.

And I think a large part of that is because he isn’t confined to a room and desk all day long. He still spends time indoors, but his teachers have found ways to extend learning outside whenever possible.

Sometimes the outdoor learning is environmentally based, but other times, it’s simply because there are benefits to being outside. From exposure to vitamin D and its positive effects on our well-being, to the cognitive benefits that come with fresh air, to the innate joy and freedom of being outdoors, outdoor learning is beneficial for both students—and teachers.

Novel Activity Out in the Snow

I used to teach the short story To Build a Fire, which is about a man who has to build a campfire to survive sub-zero temperatures. One of my favorite activities at the end of this short unit was taking my students to a field behind our school to see if they could build a campfire using the same tools as the character in the story.

To say my students loved this activity would be an understatement. It was always the highlight of the winter for me, seeing students loosen up together outside, reenact the story, and roast marshmallows over the fires they built.

Creating Outdoor Learning Outside of Environmental Schools

As an educator, this of course makes me wonder how we can bring more learning outside, even if you’re not teaching in an environmental school like my son’s. So, here are some ideas for taking learning outdoors, whether you're teaching about the environment or simply want to enjoy some sunlight during the day. But before we dive into the list of ideas, a quick note: Students need to understand that outdoor learning is not an extra recess. It's an intentional time to learn and grow, just like in the classroom, but in a different setting. So, review expectations with students before going outside, reminding them that this is a privilege that needs to be taken seriously.

14 Outdoor Learning Activities 

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of natural items for students to find, like leaves, rocks, or flowers. They can write about what they find, research deeper, or even create artwork out of the materials.

2. Outdoor Reading Time: Avid readers know where you read is sometimes just as important as what you read. Bring books outside and have students find a comfortable spot to read independently or in pairs.

3. Sketch Nature: Provide students with sketch pads and pencils and have them draw what they see around them, whether it’s trees, animals, or landscapes. This teaches observation skills, you can tie in science content, of course art, and even math.

4. Storytelling Circle: Have your students take part in the ancient practice of storytelling outside. Sit in a circle and take turns telling parts of a story. Each student can add a sentence or two, making it a collaborative storytelling session.

5. Math Relay Races: My son did this one recently and loved it. Set up a relay race where students have to solve math problems at different stations before moving on to the next. A nice mix of movement and competition in math class.
 

6. Plant a Garden: Students can plant flowers, vegetables, or herbs. This can be a long-term project where students take care of the garden throughout the year. And to really motivate, have a goal for their garden and what students produce. Set up a farmers market or donate the vegetables and flowers to a food pantry.

7. Weather Observation: Have students observe and record the weather, including temperature, cloud types, and wind direction. They can compare their observations over time.

8. Bird Watching: Bring binoculars and a bird guide outside. Students can try to identify different bird species in the area.

9. Outdoor Science Experiments: Conduct simple experiments outside, such as testing how different surfaces absorb heat or creating a sundial.

10. Erosion Observations: Have students walk around school property looking for evidence of erosion. then take their observations back to the classroom where they can dig deeper into the topic.

11. Leaf and Bark Rubbings: Provide students with paper and crayons to make rubbings of different leaves and tree barks. This can be tied into lessons about plant species., and makes really cool artwork.

12. Environmental Clean-Up: Teach students about environmental stewardship by organizing a clean-up activity in a local park or around the school.

13. Shadow Tracing: On a sunny day, have students trace each other's shadows on the ground and observe how they change throughout the day.

14. Nature Journaling: Have students keep a journal where they write about their outdoor experiences, note interesting observations, or reflect on what they’ve learned. You can tie in writing instruction, but also teach students a valuable lifelong skill in reflection.

This list just scratches the surface, but hopefully, it helps you think of ideas that connect directly with the classes you teach. If you have your own kids and ask them what their favorite part of the school day was, the response is almost always recess. And if you ask a high schooler what they miss most about elementary school, the answer is almost always recess.

I think part of this is the play and fun that happens there, but it’s also because kids like to go outside. People like to go outside. It’s good for physical and mental health. I’m not so sure we’re meant to stay in the same room for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. So consider if there is anything in your curriculum that might be better done in the fresh air, and see if it affects the way your students learn.

Ps. I'm writing this while sitting on my back deck, sweating a little bit, but enjoying the sounds of the birds in the trees above my head and seeing the first signs of fall as a few leaves float towards the ground.