We all know the rejuvenating effect of stepping into the warm sunshine and breathing deeply. There’s something about being outside that just makes us feel refreshed and inspired — and there’s no better time than spring for educators and students alike to take a welcome respite from the confines of the classroom (and the ubiquity of screens) to embrace outdoor education.
The great news is that being outside doesn’t just feel good; it’s also good for us. That’s why spending time outside should be an integral part of a school’s or district’s comprehensive approach to holistic student health.
Here are some tips for getting your class out of the classroom and taking advantage of nature’s nurturing power.
Come for the health and wellness benefits…
A recent study found that the more you sit, the more exercise you need. While educators are typically on their feet most of the school day, students often spend much of their day sitting, which can be detrimental to their overall health and wellbeing.
The great outdoors offers numerous opportunities to increase physical activity levels for educators and students, and those experiences are often enhanced by the exposure to sunshine, natural light and fresh air. Being in nature has been shown to have many positive effects on physical and mental health. You don’t even have to take a day-long hike or other extreme adventure to experience those benefits; any time spent outside can help improve focus and lower blood pressure.
Giving kids time to move and be outside may also provide benefits once they are back in the classroom. That’s especially true for students with ADHD – and schools are seeing more ADHD referrals among students today. Allowing all students to have those breaks outside may lead to increased focus and sustained attention once they are back in the typical classroom setting.
...And stay for the fun
With what feels like more curriculum to cover than there are hours to teach, educators often can’t spare time on endeavors that usurp learning. Get creative in how you take advantage of nature’s therapy by identifying classroom activities that can easily be adapted to an outdoor environment. Here are some to consider:
1. Physical activities
Use your school’s outdoor space for activities your class would enjoy that incorporate movement and exercise. A few examples include relay races, obstacle courses and yoga sessions.
Physical education can even be tied into core subjects, such as math. There are so many unique ways to incorporate math with outdoor physical activities, such as creating scatterplots after one-minute basketball shooting drills or calculating mean, median, mode and range with drills. It doesn't have to be difficult, but it should create hands-on learning opportunities for students.
2. Reading circles/writing stations
Find shaded areas where students can enjoy silent or group reading or work on writing assignments while surrounded by nature. Virtually any class subject can be taken outside with a little advanced planning.
3. Social studies lessons
Explore local history or geography by taking students on walking tours of nearby landmarks, historical sites or natural features. You can even try a “silent walk,” which helps students practice tuning into the sights, sounds and smells around them.
4. Science experiments
Conduct hands-on science experiments that require outdoor materials, such as observing plant growth, studying animal habitats or testing the properties of soil. This can be a multi-day endeavor that allows students to learn to note subtle changes in their environment.
5. Art projects
Take art class outdoors where students can collect natural materials like leaves, flowers or rocks to inspire their creativity. They can also sketch landscapes, create nature-inspired sculptures or paint outdoor scenes.
6. Group discussions and debates
Foster class discussions or debates in a circle of chairs or on picnic blankets, allowing students to share their thoughts and ideas in a relaxed outdoor setting. This is an ideal opportunity to practice social skills — like communication and active listening — while empowering students to better examine their own thought processes and beliefs and glean insight from others.
7. Planting and tending a school garden
School gardens are taking root across the country for their ability to engage students in topics like plant biology, ecology, nutrition and environmental science through practical, hands-on experiences. This can be a school- or district-wide endeavor that can nurture a lifelong love of fresh foods.
Teachers are so creative and love to think outside the box. Letting teachers take their learning outside gives them more autonomy in the methods they use to teach the required curriculum. So often, we get stuck in thinking that kids must be inside to learn best. However, ample studies show that a combination of indoor and outdoor learning benefits students and teachers alike.
Consider appropriate safety measures
While being outdoors is healthy for the body and mind, it can also introduce new variables to the “classroom” environment that could pose risks to you and your students.
It’s wise to be cognizant of external factors like heat and sun. To mitigate the risk of sunburn and dehydration, request that students wear ample sunscreen and provide ready access to water.
You also don’t want to overlook any safety or security concerns. These activities might only be appropriate, for example, on a campus with restricted access. Require that the class stays together, preferably within your eyesight, and institute the buddy system. Always have your cell phone ready to call for appropriate intervention in case of a medical situation or other emergency.
Embracing the unconventional classroom
Enhancing mental and physical wellbeing by taking your classroom outside may require some ingenuity and creativity, but you’ll likely discover it’s easier than you might think, especially since the opportunity to take advantage of nature activities is literally right outside your door.
If you would like more information on how your school or district can address students’ health holistically, visit Pearson’s Mental Health Resources Hub.