Do you have spring fever? In many places of the country winter has been long, snowy, and rainy. Students have been stuck indoors and are feeling restless. Then along comes a warm, sunny, beautiful day. After weeks of cold, windy weather, it is a welcome sign of spring. Students are staring out the window longingly, and let’s face it, you probably are as well!
What can you do when longing for the outside makes it hard for students to focus on the tasks inside of your classroom? We suggest you give in and take your students outside!
There are many ways to give in to spring fever without abandoning your curriculum or academic standards. There are ideas and activities appropriate for students of all ages and different content areas.
We do want to remind you to be clear and specific in setting your behavior expectations and directions before you attempt to take students outside to work.
Here is an example of how to set expectations:
“I know we would all like to work outside today. Before we can do that, I need you to agree to follow my rules and behavior expectations. First, while we are outside, you promise to focus on doing the work of the lesson. When I call for your attention, you promise to stop and listen to directions. If you do not follow these rules we will immediately return to the classroom. Please raise your hand if you can agree to these rules.”
Here are a few activities that will start you thinking about how you can take advantage of warm weather to increase your student’s engagement with your curriculum.
Younger students:
Observe like scientists. Go on a nature walk. Note signs of spring. Then write or draw your observations.
Use sidewalk chalk to practice sight words or spelling words, practice math problems, or illustrate and solve story problems.
Read with a partner, taking turns reading pages.
Practice and perform reader’s theater presentations. There are many scripts available for free for different content areas. Read more about Readers Theater here.
Walk to local sites such as museums.
Middle and High School students:
Practice speech and reading skills with Reader’s Theater. Students can select poems from poetry books or books such as Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices or I am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices. Read more about Readers Theater here.
Do a “Walk and Talk.” Have students pair up. Give them an assigned topic to discuss. Often you can use the discussion questions you would have used with the entire class. Have them walk and talk about the question for a minute or two, then switch partners. Bring them back to a large group to share their insights. Repeat as time allows. This activity is also great for language classes- talking must be in the language they are learning!
Allow students to do assigned reading, sitting by themselves, in a nice sunny location.
Nature is also a good inspiration for writing. With clipboards, students can easily write outside. Tie the writing activity to nature or to your existing curriculum.
Use the outdoors for potentially loud activities such as skits, debates, or acting out concepts in the form of Tableaux. Students can act out the parts of a cell or create a rap about the Continental Congress.
Do scientific investigations, collect data and analyze the results.
Use math skills to measure the height of trees, estimate the number of trees in an area of land or do some orienteering. You could also create statistics from the NCAA tournament or Major League Baseball’s opening games.
These are just a few of the many possible activities, we’re sure you can look at your curriculum and find ways that you can engage students while giving them a chance to enjoy the first beautiful spring days.
Let us know how YOU teach outdoors!
Happy spring,
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