Moving the classroom into nature – benefits and tips for outdoor learning

Written by Camille Ruest and Danielle Hak

With winter coming to an end and signs of spring all around us, New Brunswickers across the province are starting to spend more time outdoors. More people can be seen walking around their communities, and people are rediscovering their favorite parks.  Now is the perfect time for teachers to be moving their classes outside! Whether it’s for a math, art, science or language lesson, there are many benefits to holding classes outside. Here are just three of the many benefits of outdoor learning:

1. Happiness and mental wellbeing: Consistent time spent in nature has been shown to improve happiness and reduce stress. When students are given more time to play and learn outside, it influences their overall mood, lowers anxiety, and reduces negative emotions¹. The dynamic experience of learning outside in nature has also been shown to support students’ development of key life skills, such as conflict management, problem solving, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships².
2. Nature can have many applications to lessons taught in the classroom. Science has a clear connection, as students learn about the natural world, and can see it first-hand. But all subjects, such as art, math, phys. Ed., and languages, can benefit from an interactive approach. Being outside can bring a subject to life, allowing students to better connect with and remember what is being taught.
3. Strong knowledge of and connection to nature: There is no better place to learn about the environment, then by going outside and exploring it for yourself. Education surrounding the environment, protecting nature, climate change and sustainability is becoming more important and common in our school systems. Creating a personal connection to nature is the best way to teach students to be environmental stewards, as it to show them the value of nature and that we can all be a part of helping the environment.

Now that you can see some of the ways that students benefit from learning while getting outside, here are five tips for enjoying the outdoors near your school while promoting your students’ learning.

1. Explore the potential of your schoolyard: You don’t need a big garden or forest nearby to get started. Try various places on the schoolyard to find one that works best. When you find a good location, you can use small carpets or plastic bags as seats, as these are very easy to move by students³.
2. Prioritize a quiet, shaded and wind-sheltered place: Choose a quiet place not far from the school where there is a little shade, especially for sunny days, and where there is not too much wind⁴.
3. Choose appropriate lessons: Some lessons are more easily done outdoors than others because of the necessary materials. It is important to have the right equipment to do the lesson outdoors. There are many opportunities to make links with the curriculum using elements that are already found on your schoolyard. Knowing your school yard and its environmental features can help you plan the best lessons to be taught outside^5,6.
4. Establish clear regulations and guidelines: To ensure that lessons run smoothly in the outdoors, it is important for students to know what is expected of them. To achieve this, work with students to establish rules and expectations before going outside for lessons⁷.
5. Create a routine: When you go outside often with your students, they will become more accustomed to it and this will avoid behavioral discrepancies. The routine will allow you and your students to become more comfortable and confident and allow for your students to explore their creativity while working in and exploring nature⁸.

Many schools have already begun to integrate outdoor learning into their lesson plans. After you have seen first-hand the improved confidence and academic growth in your students, you might consider making outdoor learning a regular activity with an outdoor classroom facility, that can be used by the whole school.  

References

1. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149777#pone.0149777.ref050
2. http://www.seer.org/pages/research/AIROutdoorSchool2005.pdf
3. https://centdegres.ca/magazine/sante-et-societe/pedagogie-plein-air-6-conseils-cour-decole-lieu-dapprentissage/
4. https://enseignerdehors.ca/amenagement/classe-exterieure-elements-a-considerer-dans-son-amenagement/
5. https://centdegres.ca/magazine/sante-et-societe/pedagogie-plein-air-6-conseils-cour-decole-lieu-dapprentissage/
6. https://davidsuzuki.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Nature-Comme-Sallede-Classe-French-language-get-back-outside-resource.pdf
7. https://centdegres.ca/magazine/sante-et-societe/pedagogie-plein-air-6-conseils-cour-decole-lieu-dapprentissage/

8. https://centdegres.ca/magazine/sante-et-societe/classes-exterieures-pedagogie-plein-air-10-idees-projets-rentree/

These photos are of Mr. Kevin Ouellette’s grade 6 class, who participated in this year’s Watch Your Paws program, learning in their forest classroom.