Outdoor Classroom

There are many reasons you might be considering taking your classroom outdoors. A nearby creek could lend itself well for a lesson on ecosystems, or you might simply notice that students are happier and more engaged while learning outdoors. This year in particular, you might be utilizing an outdoor classroom to limit the spread of communicable disease.

Regardless of your reason there are a host resources to support you in getting started. Explore this webpage to find tools, tips and communities of like-minded educators and organizations to turn to as you embark on an exciting new journey.

We are happy to have collaborated with Megan Zeni from Room to Play in the development of this resource.

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Prepare for Teaching Outdoors

Spend some time preparing for your outdoor lessons to ensure things go smoothly. Browse through this section for ideas on what you might want to consider before taking your class outside.

Location

When deciding on a temporary location for your outdoor classroom do a reconnaissance with your students. Walk around in the schoolyard and take note of natural features that could provide shelter from the elements, boundary lines and points of interest that are connected to your lesson. Including your students in the process helps support shared responsibility and ownership.
Consider your seasonal needs for shade, shelter, proximity to the school building and natural boundaries you can take advantage of
Collaborate with school staff and administrators when deciding on the location for a permanent outdoor classroom.
Safety – assess risks and hazards. Risks can become hazards in relationship to the developmental abilities of your students. Consult with expert knowledge keepers if you are unsure of how wind, flora or fauna present as hazards in your space.

Further Resources:

Establish Routines

Have everyone use the washroom and wash their hands before heading outdoors.
Practice entry and exit routines.
Ensure students have a way to wash their hands while outside, especially if they will be eating or using shared equipment. Bring hand sanitizer or a portable handwashing site if your school has one on hand.
Consider the developmental abilities of your students before heading to spaces without washroom faculties.

Further Resources:

Health and Safety Measures in School by BC Government
How to build a tippy tap by the US CDC

Communication with Parents

Preparation makes every day and outside day!
Communicate with parents that students will be learning in an outdoor classroom. This will help ensure students come to school prepared for the elements. See page 11 of Into Nature for a sample letter
Ensure you have reached out to parents and are aware of any significant allergies.

Communication with School Administrators

Follow any school policies and procedures that are in place for taking your class outside. Discuss your plans with your administrator.
Follow all district and site-specific protocols and policies for students to adult ratios on walking field trips.
Ensure the office knows where to find you.
Consider creating a school schedule to equitably share outdoor spaces for schools with limited outdoor space.

Co-create Expectations and Rules for Learning Outdoors

Just as it’s important to communicate your outdoor classroom plans with parents and administrators, it’s vital that you express your expectations and vision to your students.

Most educators recommend giving students direct instruction while you are still inside the classroom, especially if you are new to using outdoor classrooms. Here are a few topics we suggest you discuss before heading outdoors.

Involve your students in creating class expectations to help build a sustainable learning environment.
Take a walk around your potential learning space and ask students to suggest how the space can be used responsibly and respectfully. Draft a class agreement.
Talk to students about how the outdoor classroom will differ from being outdoors at recess or lunch time.
Decide as a group on emergency procedures and practice them.
Describe and practice any outdoor classroom management techniques you plan to use (e.g. if you have a special signal to get students’ attention while you are outdoors).
Describe the outdoor lessons and activities while still inside the classroom to reduce distractions.

Communicating with students on how the outdoor classroom will work will provide a comfort to those who may be uncomfortable with changes to their learning environment.

Further Resources

Classroom Management- Outdoor Teaching Strategies by Evergreen

Pack a Go Bag

These lists include supplies that will make it more comfortable, safe and enjoyable for you and your students to spend time outdoors. If you don’t have everything on the list don’t let it deter you from heading out. Start small with trips that are close to the school building, short in length, and head out on days when you have the weather on your side. As you build up your supplies and feel more comfortable, venture farther from the school for longer outings in any kind of weather.

If possible, we recommend building a lending library of outdoor footwear and clothing at the school, in case some students don’t have an item on the days you plan to go outside.

Student Go Bag

Students can pack their go-bag in a backpack.

A sit upon
A clipboard
Individual school supplies like pencils and colouring materials can be carried in a large Ziploc bag
An observational journal
Seasonal comforts (extra socks, surplus clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses)
Water bottle and snacks

Further Resources

Activity Kits for Outdoor Learning by Evergreen – How to make your own sit-upon
10 Tips for Teaching Outside by Megan Zeni – Weather Appropriate Clothing

Teacher Go Bag

Teachers can use a wagon or backpack for their kit.

A call and return noise maker (whistler, or musical instrument)
The class list
First Aid Kit and any necessary student medication
Surplus school supplies
A tarp for keeping supplies dry, building a shelter, or for creating a shared gathering space
Teacher sit-upon or folding stool
Lesson materials
Seasonal comforts (extra socks, surplus clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen)
Clipboard
Disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer

Optional Items

Flagging Tape and Rope – Can be used to set classroom boundaries for students.
Reflective Vest – Can be used as a visual to set boundaries for students in wooded areas. If you can’t see the bright vest, you’ve gone too far.
Tarp and Rope – A tarp can provide protection from the sun, rain and snow or act as a barrier between the students and the ground.
Garbage bags – Can be used to collect garbage if you go to a site with no garbage disposal available or as an emergency rain coat or back pack protector for sudden weather change.

Further Resources

What to Wear When Teaching Outside by Megan Zeni
Outdoor Classroom Essentials – things to bring and activities on how to make them by HCTF Education

Teaching

With a little creativity, outdoor classrooms can be used to teach any subject. It can be helpful to look through your teaching plan and make note of which lessons would be most conducive to going outside.

As inspiration, many organizations have already prepared lesson plans to use outdoors for everything from science and physical education, to math and art. Don’t get too hung up on your lesson plan, one of the most exciting aspects of outdoor classrooms are the opportunities for emergent curriculum (see Tip #9 on Megan Zeni’s outdoor classroom blog).

Lesson Plans & Activities

Loose Parts Play Toolkit by Inspiring Scotland
The Outdoor Playbook – Outdoor PLAYbook offers a selection of le play elements by grade, type and activity among other information on: landscape architecture, sustainable design, economicand phasing strategies, child development, injury prevention, and outdoor educational opportunities. (K-12)
Learning Outdoors Curriculum ideas by UBC Faculty of Education
Outdoor Learning Field Guide by SD33 Chilliwack, BC (Elementary)
Sit Spot Activity by Sierra Club BC (Elementary)
The Exploring the Great Bear Sea Curriculum Resources include an elementary cross-curricular unit for Grades 4-7, secondary units for Social Studies Grades 11 & 12 and Environmental Science Grades 11 & 12, and a Post-Secondary Resource
Kootenay Boundary Environmental Education KBEE Outside Learning Ideas
Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA) – Weekly Teaching Tips
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)- has a summary of excellent resources available to support both classroom and community-based environmental education programs

Teaching by Season

- Fall – Fall Gardening with Kids by Megan Zeni (Elementary)
- Winter – Winter Gardening With Kids by Megan Zeni- (Elementary)
- Spring: Pollinator Citizen Science by Nature Kids BC – (Elementary)
- Use the Insight app to engage in pollinator research and conservation (Secondary)
- Evergreen’s Patterns Through the Seasons – A Year of School Food Garden Activities (Elementary)

Other Resources:

Community Partnerships

Are you looking for like-minded people and organizations? Here is a list of organizations and professional learning communities we recommend connecting with for additional resources, networking events, and professional development opportunities related to outdoor teaching and learning.

Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Association (EESPA): A provincial specialist Association of the BC Teachers Federation – EEPSA promotes networking, curriculum support, and leadership in environmental education supported by the BCTF.
Classrooms to Communities: BC Education Network – the C2C Education Network is connecting classrooms and communities across the province to grow collaboration, teacher leadership and mentorship capacity for place-based education and environmental literacy.
Take me outside – works collaboratively with other organizations, school boards and individuals to encourage children and youth to spend more time outside through various projects and initiatives.
CBEEN Community Organizations Directory provides a list of organizations in the Columbian Basin area.
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor learning and play.

Check out your own local community organizations, partners, businesses that may be able to present, provide hands-on learning or be involved in field trips.

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