Hi all,
I have been researching virtual learning programs and envisioning a class project that would focus on ways to strengthen programs for students without adult support at home and/or ways to build in parent education/training to programs. However, I just completed a reflective essay for my certificate in Education for Global Sustainability and it got me thinking about some of the other work I've done during the course of the Master's Program that has been really meaningful to me. I noticed a thread throughout my courses and work that I've done and I'm changing direction now to pull on that thread a bit more. Watch the video from Richard Louv below to get a sense of my new focus:
Through all the work I've done on education for sustainability, it has become clear to me that the best way to make kids passionate about sustainability is to expose them to a lot of time outside. Kids who are outside become little naturalists, eager to observe, explore, and protect the world around them. Little naturalists grow up to be conscientious adults working towards sustainability. I've done some work previously developing activities and curriculum units that develop naturalist skills in children but I'd like to take it a bit farther.
I want to work on finding ways to work these activities and this curriculum into the teaching work I do so that being outside is part of our classroom identity and culture. I don't want to just practice sketching or observe a bird cam for a week, I want being outside to be something we do regularly. I want to find ways to incorporate it into all the other curriculum I am responsible for and I suspect this will be my biggest challenge. I know how to guide children to become naturalists but I don't know how to squeeze that into my packed days full of state mandated standards. It is encouraging to hear things like Louv said in the video that simply being outside is beneficial for children. I'm thinking now about having reading or writing time happen outside. Science lends itself easily to being outside. I believe this will be my focus moving forward.
I found an article and video about a school in Atlanta that was inspired by Richard Louv's book "Last Child in the Woods," which discusses the issues caused by American schools failing to get kids outside enough. The video in the article below gives a sense of what I am wanting to incorporate into my teaching.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-chattahoochee-hills-charter-school-focuses-learning-outdoors/
If anyone has any thoughts on how to begin incorporating this into a packed 1st or 2nd grade schedule, I'm ready to listen!
I love your idea of focusing your project around outdoor learning. I think one of the benefits of COVID has been in reminding some early childhood educators of the wonder, beauty and engaging educational opportunities inherent in outdoor learning. I know that my partner, who teachers at a Reggio-inspired Preschool/PreK, definitely developed a newfound appreciation for outdoor learning this year anyway. So much so, that they are trying to figure out a way to make outdoor learning an on-going part of their program curriculum.
I also wanted to let you know about an educator, named Sally Anderson, that I met via the Reggio Emilia network who founded a forest school in New Mexico. This is her website: https://www.solforestschool.com/about-us. You might consider reaching out her. I believe her school serves students up through age 7.
Kim - thank you for this great feedback! I know for a lot of students, COVID has led to more outdoor learning. Because I am teaching fully virtually and not in person, I am unfortunately spending even more time inside than I would normally.
I love your passion about this Annie. I hesitate to give the pandemic any credit for anything good, but I do know it caused some educators to rethink where they could teach and moved teachers outside. I also think this is not only important and their generations will be faced wit some extremely challenging environmental issues, but it also balances their experiences with technology. Students are connected more and more with technology and if we want them to be balanced citizens, this approach is very valuable to the future of education.
I agree that it is so important to find that balance. I also agree that the pandemic forced us to find ways to do many things we never would have thought were possible before! Teach a 6 year old to read on Zoom pre-pandemic? Impossible! But now - been there, done that, what's next??
I think the idea of outdoor learning is excellent. There are who schools and academic programs like Rain tree school or Waldorf that focuses heavily on nature and learning outdoors. In this vein your thinking is in line with longstanding approaches to this type of learning. Ideally you want to include many opportunities for students to explore and discover.
I feel like all the schools and programs that I've hard of that have been successful at really integrating outdoor learning are private schools. I'm hoping that I can work on ways to help this work in a public school setting as well!
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Annie,
I love this idea! As a Middle School teacher, grades 6 - 8, our 6th-grade teachers really had to fight to earn the right for their students to have access to recess again. Even as an 8th-grade math teacher, I try to get my students outside to work especially when they are just doing some independent practice. We have one area outside our building where teachers can take their classes and it is often a race to reserve that spot when the weather is nice. My classroom is in the basement of a building that was built a very long time ago. It was actually the High School for our district originally. The windows are high up and you can not see anything except a concrete wall unless you stand right below the window and look upward. I have found myself lately encouraging my students to "Get outside after school. It's a beautiful day!" I am really looking forward to your finished product!
Denise,
I am lucky to work from a beautiful building with a wall full of windows that look down on a lovely garden tended by the preschool students! Even so, it is different to look at nature out the window and be immersed in it. I love to hear how you are engaging your students outside when possible.
This is a great idea and I agree more young people are loosing touch with nature and outdoor activities. One thing you could do is create a lesson where young learners have to start identifying biotic (living) and abiotic (not living) objects. For example a class could go outside and look and identify things that are living and non. A lot of children haven't thought of trees, grass and other plants as being alive and this is a great way to show them that living things are all around them.
I am lucky that our school has a lovely Seed to Table program that does a lot of sustainability/nature/food education so my students generally have a good foundational understanding of what is living and not. But, there is always more to learn and discover!!
Hi Anne, I really enjoyed this video and hearing your stance on outdoor learning. I think outdoor learning is a very interesting and great idea. I can remember as a child always wanting to go outside for art class, gym, etc. It just seems more exciting especially on a nice day.