TOP TIPS FOR TAKING LEARNING OUTDOORS DURING THE COOLER MONTHS
From Dr. Katharine Forsey, Education Consultant to Gratnells, a regular contributor to its Learning Rooms project, and a specialist in devising outdoor learning activities for schoolchildren of all ages.
With the cooler weather now on the horizon in the Middle East, it is the best time to take your students outdoors. Whether it is a field trip to a nearby or not so nearby place or simply taking the students outside, you can truly transform your students’ learning with a simple change of venue.
First things first, learning outside of the classroom often means learning outside of your comfort zone, so why do it?
Apart from often being free, fun and engaging, research highlights the demonstrable educational benefits of learning outdoors and provides a source of support, justification and an important evidence base for educators looking to undertake more learning outside the classroom. As well as the educational benefits, the health benefits are also widely reported. There is a proven positive relationship between physical activity and improved cognitive functioning that includes concentration, memory and language.
Top Tips
For managing students outdoors:
1. Work in small groups that the children recognise
2. Re-direct individual groups if they are going off track, rather than stopping the whole class
3. Set your equipment out in advance 4. Have a base spot, or muster point
5. Move between the groups as they work
6. Set clearly defined boundaries
7. Create a set of outdoor classroom rules with the students
8. Communicate with parents in advance regarding appropriate clothing
9. Have back up indoor activities.
Sand Dunes You do not have to travel far in many middle eastern countries to find beautiful sand dunes. Let your students explore these structures for a geography lesson. Studying sand dunes is an ideal way to talk about wind shifts and the effects of rainfall.
Wadis Wadi is the Arabic term used when referring to a valley. In some instances, it may refer to a dry( ephemeral) riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream. A field trip to a wadi can be very rewarding for students who are studying rock formation or learning about different types of rocks. Wadi sediments contain a whole range from gravel to mud. If you live in certain cities, you may have to travel a little to get to one, however for students in Al Ain, Fujairah and Oman, where there are several wadis, this can be a very quick trip. Be careful when taking your students to wadis. If it has just rained or is about to rain, wadis tend to fill up with water very quickly when it rains and can become quite deep and dangerous.
But that’ s not all. We have the curriculum on our side too! It places a strong emphasis on using the outdoors- with topics such as plants, habitats and seasonal change, it is clear to see the links and almost impossible to cover these areas effectively without going outside. There are many cross-curricular links too. Taking learning outside can occur across all subject areas if built into curriculum planning, with clear learning objectives that consider what your students will be learning, how it is best learned, and the most effective place for this to take place.
Gratnells Outdoor Education Kit
Teaching outdoors is how we can make learning come alive for our students, enriching all subject areas, engaging and inspiring children to take their studies further. It’ s only when you go outside and find real world examples that diagrams and theories have context, resonance and meaning.
14 | Nov- Dec 2016 | | Class Time