Embedded Files
Outdoor Learning: Skills for Success
Outdoor Learning: Skills for Success
Group Observations ("Nature Mysteries")
Teach the process for group viewing of "Nature Mysteries"
These are opportunities to engage students in a whole group conversation about something & apply language vocabulary of noticing, wondering & positional words.
Explicitly teach the process of forming a circle around the discovery.
Skills to teach/practice:
Tapping the shoulder of someone and asking them to move back to make room so you can join the circle.
Noticing if everyone is part of the circle and letting others know if they need to move back so others can join.
Using a calm voice to say "I need space" or "I can't see."
Observing without touching.
Outdoor Classroom Boundaries
Identify clear boundaries for outdoor spaces
Whistle Protocol
1 whistle = Freeze
Session 1: Explore
Session 1: Explore
Session 1: Number Sense
Session 1: Number Sense
What do you notice?
What do you wonder?
During your walk to your outdoor classroom spot, pause and investigate "Nature Mysteries".
Incorporate positional words when fostering children's observations of the item.
(ie What do you observe that is next to the nest?)
Session 1: Discover It & Investigate It
Session 1: Discover It & Investigate It
To allow children more opportunities to move appropriately (ie climbing on or under furniture), take these lessons outdoors. Use the lesson prompts as written, just do it in an outdoor classroom space.
Outdoor Learning Skills:
Clear Boundaries for the activity (need students to be close so they can hear the discussion/directions throughout the game)
Set climbing boundaries: For this activity, students can stand on something but not be climbing (ie standing on a rock or log, but not climbing up a tree)
1 Whistle = Freeze
Session 2 & 3: Develop
Session 2 & 3: Develop
Session 2: Number Sense
Session 2: Number Sense
Print the slides and bring them outside
Ways to show it another way:
Chalk outside to write/draw
On your walk to/from your outdoor classroom spot, students find objects/materials
Session 3: Where is the Bear?
Session 3: Where is the Bear?
Instead of creating a cave in the classroom, play in one of the outdoor classrooms.
Forts at Oak Forest
Hollow log at Nature Playground
Extension Ideas
Extension Ideas
Find the Object
Find the Object
Materials:
Objects such as toy bugs or animals
Positional word cards
Students draw a positional word and have to use that word to find their hiding spot for their object. For example, they draw the word "above." They go place their bear above the rock. Their partner is handed the word as the clue. They then have to go find the object.
Eye Spy using Positional Words:
Play eye spy using positional words
Students can either guess the object you are thinking of OR go physically stand by it/find it.
Eye Spy something next to the rock...
Eye Spy
Eye Spy
Play eye spy using positional words
Students can either guess the object you are thinking of OR go physically stand by it/find it.
Examples: Eye Spy something next to the rock...
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