How to Incorporate Outdoor Learning With Elementary School Students

When it comes to outdoor learning, the possibilities are endless. It can be as simple as moving your regular lessons to a new location, such as a park or the school yard. Or you can use the outdoors as a way to integrate nature and the environment into your lessons, using them as tools to support an interdisciplinary approach. 

Whatever its form, outdoor learning does take a certain amount of planning. So why should you add this type of activity to an already busy schedule? In short, because it offers a surprising number of benefits for students—and even adults! 

• Reduced stress and anxiety: Nature offers a calmer, quieter, and safer learning environment. As a result, outdoor learning has a soothing effect on students. 
• Improved attention span: When someone is outside, their attention is generally focused on stimuli that require little brain power (listening to the wind or birdsong, observing insects or the movement of trees, etc.). This gives students’ brains a chance to rest and reset their ability to focus. The effects of going outside are even felt once back in the classroom. Studies have shown that after an outing, students are better able to focus and require fewer interventions from their teacher. 
• Increased motivation, enjoyment, and commitment to learning: Outdoor activities often place children in a context that is more hands-on and relatable. Because of this, students are more likely to develop intrinsic motivation and a desire to learn more.
• Autonomy, creativity, and free play: The elements found in nature (branches, rocks, insects, mud, cones, shells, etc.) give free rein to the imagination and encourage unstructured play. This type of self-directed play often places students at the centre of their own learning.
• Physical activity and fitness: It goes without saying that when students are outside. they are more likely to be active. Increased activity is beneficial for their overall health, attention span, and more. 
• Personal development: Through outdoor activities, students gain self-esteem and learn valuable life skills such as perseverance, critical thinking, leadership, problem solving, and communication. Studies have also shown that students have better impulse control during or after contact with nature. 
• Environmental awareness: Outdoor learning can be used to directly or indirectly teach students about the environment. Whatever the educational aim, when students spend time outdoors they tend to develop a connection with nature, an eco-conscious attitude, and a desire to protect and care for the world around them. 
• Cooperation: The natural world encourages friendship and cooperation among students by offering an environment that is less restrictive and more flexible. 

Understanding the benefits of outdoor learning is one thing. Reality can be quite another. Rest assured, you can reap the benefits of outdoor learning without an elaborate 3-day forest expedition or a fully equipped outdoor classroom. 

Start by determining your intent. For example, your goal could be one of the following: 

• Get your students outside in the fresh air 
• Energize your students and get them moving
• Have more space for a certain activity
• Raise environmental awareness
• Help students connect with nature
• Support learning with hands-on experiences

Based on the activity you are planning and its purpose, think about which location would be most appropriate: a quiet corner of the playground, a nearby open field, a park, etc. You may want to scout the area beforehand to see how clean it is and identify any risks. Doing so will help you come up with appropriate guidelines to give to your class. 

Likewise, think about the equipment you will need. For example: 

• Sturdy clipboards for writing
• Binoculars for observing nature at a distance or magnifying glasses for observing elements in detail
• A camera
• Balls
• Clips or pins

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning an outdoor activity: 

• Set clear rules to make sure everyone behaves safely and respectfully. Inform your students in advance and if possible, start with a simple outing to gain confidence in yourself and your students.
• If your activity is off the school grounds, you may need a few more adults to help out. 
• Use practical techniques such as visual and sound cues to get your students’ attention and maintain order. 
• That said, try to remain as flexible as possible to encourage exploration and experimentation, which are at the heart of the outdoor learning experience. 
   

To introduce your students to the joys of outdoor learning, start with simple activities that spark their curiosity and call on their observation skills:  

• A treasure hunt for elements found in nature, or a botanical treasure hunt where children identify and catalogue different plant species, can enrich their knowledge of the natural sciences. 
• An outdoor conversation, where the class has the opportunity to sit in a circle and talk about a current event, research topic, or book. 
• An outdoor reading session under the trees on a hot day.
• A group art project made out of leaves, to encourage creativity and teamwork.
• A series of calculations or measurements: Try measuring the perimeter and calculating the area of the school playground to find out how much space they have, or calculating the water equivalent of the current snowfall.
• Educational walks to look for shapes, letters, or words—or try counting trees or cars, then use the data to create statistics. 
• A neighbourhood walkabout to learn about the history behind its street names, buildings, and more. 
• An expedition to find rocks and take them back to school for classification. 

Enseigner dehors (French only) is a website dedicated to outdoor learning and offers a host of tools and activity ideas. Alloprof’s concept sheets are also an invaluable resource for enriching your lessons!