By Amy Abernathy
Think about the kids in your classrooms for a minute. How much of a given week are they surrounded by the walls of their homes, schools, shopping centers, and churches? Most of the time our kids are boxed in. Social media and video games have replaced much of what used to be outdoor play time. Granted, there’s recess, P.E., and soccer practice, but that is not enough! We can introduce them to more than they ever imagined was beyond the confines of their enclosed spaces. Outdoor education can be used to motivate and mobilize our children. It’s time to get them out of the box!
Outdoor Education engages students in real world, hands-on experiences. When learning activities involve the senses—seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, smelling, and moving—the lesson concepts are linked to memories. They can be recalled for a longer period of time and can take on personal meaning. Some activities include collaboration in groups, time for reflection, and an opportunity for classmates to share their insights with each other.
You may ask, “Why is Outdoor Education important to include in my curriculum this year?” It has been found that children engaging in Outdoor Education activities experience an increase in intrinsic motivation, communication and thinking skills, academic performance, physical activity, positive behavior, and confidence. A decrease in stress and anxiety was also reported.
I wish to add a few more ways that Outdoor Education can be an asset in our schools:
• Students can worship the Creator in new ways as they take time to marvel at the amazing and intricate things that He has made
• Relationships with others are deepened through shared memories and accomplishments
• Students are introduced to new outdoor pursuits that can provide them with a lifetime of enjoyment
• Group cooperation, respect, and appreciation for the contributions of others are put into practice
Simply spending time in nature can even make a difference. A study by Dr. Ming Kuo of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign investigated the benefits of taking the class outside for the same lesson that normally would have been conducted inside. She found that students were more engaged and attentive in the class periods following the outdoor lessons.
Outdoor Education is a gift that we can give to our children by enabling them to interact with both sides of their world and with each other. It’s time to open up the doors and the windows—to go outside and discover the lessons that are sometimes only a few steps away. As teachers, let’s lead our children out of the box!
Ideas to complement your own Outdoor Education lessons:
Pre-K and Kindergarten
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/engaging-outdoor-learning-activities- for-kids/
Elementary
http://jenniferfindley.com/outdoor-learning-activities-for-upper-elementary/
Middle and High School
https://www.washcoll.edu/live/files/4270-ten-outdoor-education-activities
Links to the websites summarized above:
