We’ve reached the middle of August, and for many, the back-to-school jitters are settling in. This year we are all facing change, challenges, and opportunity when it comes to heading back to school—it is both daunting and exciting! This post is going to focus on how to incorporate outdoor learning as many are starting the school year at least partially online. It is an important piece to consider as we focus on connecting with our students and promoting their social and emotional well-being.
Spending time outside is important to the health of our country’s youth. Students are not necessarily going to have a structured recess time as this school year begins, and that may have been some students' only consistent time outside.
How can we promote healthy outdoor habits among our students? Let’s jump in.
Two young kiddos learn with their mom in an outdoor space. Parks and natural areas are accessible to some, but other children may be more limited to a balcony or sidewalk. Madison Audubon photo
Tip 1: Build Relationships with Students and their Families
The most important foundation for outdoor learning in a virtual setting is connecting with your students’ families.
Ask caregivers what sort of outdoor space is available to their student and what times of day they can go outside.
Anticipate that some of your students may not be able to get outside, but do have access to a window or balcony.
You will be able to plan your instruction around your students’ needs, but only if you know where each of your students is coming from. Once you know how accessible the outdoors is to your students, you can use the activities from our outdoor routines post in an equitable manner for your classroom.
A nature journal can take many shapes or forms! Madison Audubon photo
Tip 2: Provide Choices
Another way to successfully provide virtual outdoor learning opportunities is to make sure that there are choices for your students. Students may need to pick the time of day that works best for their family to make it outside, or have the option of doing something completely virtual. You can also have choices when it comes to materials; some students will prefer working with paper and others may opt to complete activities online.
Remember, outdoor learning is not something that should cause students to feel as though they failed at an activity; it is an opportunity to broaden experiences and enhance the learning of students at their homes.
Tip 3: Work on Balance
It can feel difficult to balance screen time in the online learning environment. There are an amazing number of online resources available to you as an educator, some of which allow you to tour places or see things that you would otherwise never experience. Make sure to take the time to plan out how much you are asking your students to do digitally. There isn’t a right answer, or an answer that can be directly applied from one family to the next. It is just something to keep in mind when it comes to teaching online.
Bonus: Ideas for Accessible Outdoor Activities
A small basket filled with backyard treasures. Photo by Carolyn Byers
Backyard Life
Encourage self-directed learning in your own backyard or community space. Look for signs of things living! First, look for big things, like birds or squirrels. Then, move on to smaller things. Look in the dirt for animal tracks. Find signs of spring plants by peering closely at the ground. Turn over a rock or a log: Are there bugs? Salamanders?
Art Like Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy creates art from things found in nature. Inspire your students to do the same! Create sculptures, images, or other works of art with pebbles, leave, grass, and twigs. Use this as a springboard to discuss whether it is good to take things from the environment. Talk about animal habitats, food, and other resources provided by the things your students used in the art project. Ask students to take a picture of their work when they are finished and then return all of the items they used to the natural environment.
Scavenger Hunts
Practice observation, nature journaling, and more by having students participate in scavenger hunts. These can be tailored to fit the needs of your students, and can change depending on the accessibility of outdoor space.
Bonus: our favorite online resources
Cornell Bird Cam
Watch birds from inside your own home with this Feeder Cam! Or explore birds all around the world with access to many bird cams on this site also from Cornell.
Citizen Science: Squirrels
Teach all your students to be researchers with this project through Auburn University. All students need is a window that looks out onto potential squirrel habitat. More information can be found here.
Snapshot Wisconsin
See different animals around the state through Wisconsin’s trail cam system. Check it out here. This also includes the opportunity for your students to be citizen scientists and identify Wisconsin’s various creatures.
Bonus: Zoom-friendly activities
Plant-o
This game is a variation on Bingo, but all of the squares are filled with different plant characteristics. To play as a team, the teacher leading the lesson would be the one recording plants on the team Plant-o card. Each student can bring one or more leaves, flowers, and seeds to the Zoom meeting. Let each person take a turn sharing their item, and cross off a characteristic on the Plant-o board (if it applies).
Bird Call Bingo
This is another variation on Bingo. To play as a team, the teacher leading the lesson would be the one recording birds that we find. Use your computer speakers to play bird calls for kids, and help kids guess which bird is making that sound. Using the provided card, flip the birds over on the card when you identify them!
Animal Charades
Students think of an animal and then take turns acting out their ideas. As one student acts, other students guess what animal is being mimicked.
Nature Show and Tell
Students will need time to figure out what they want to bring for show and tell, so plan this several days in advance. Have each student share what they brought!
Nature Sightings and Sharings
Similar to nature show and tell, but no physical objects are required. You could give them a prompt prior to your Zoom meeting, or just see what students come up with as they share with and listen to each other.
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There are so many ways you can incorporate outdoors activities into an online learning environment — it just takes a little time, practice, and encouragement! And boy, do we have encouragement for you. To connect with our education department, please send us an email at education@madisonaudubon.org.
Written by Rachel Lee, Madison Audubon summer educator
