Creating An Outdoor "Classroom": Part 1

My very last day of preschool teaching just about three years ago was preschool graduation day. I like to think that it was the day I graduated to being a play at home mom. I was accurately quoted during the graduation ceremony that day by a parent as having said "this is the perfect classroom" on our school field trip to the local botanical garden center here. That was a moment I began to gain the inkling that I had perhaps outgrown the walls of a traditional classroom. The next leg of my journey began with a tearful and short drive home during which I mourned the loss of "my office." (I never had an office, but I guess it felt like I did.) Then I got home to a chubby cheeked very mischievous little toddler who had just tried his hand at coloring on the wall with marker for the first time. Yup, I was ready to be a stay at home mom. Eeek. So we both headed outside and began the process of planting our first family garden...

Over the months and years that followed, our garden has expanded and so has our family. The outdoors has indeed become an extension of our family life and learning, both at home and around town. Just over a year ago I founded and launched a community nature based meetup group for families and professionals/caregivers who work with children. We meet from late winter through early fall at local parks, playgrounds and nature spaces where I bring along nature based activities to inspire play and learning while outdoors. It is my long term goal that this will be a year round endeavor rather than just in the more "popular" seasons. I've delved into literature, self-study and online conferences and training to learn more about being a natural teacher and one of my greatest passions in the experience has been evolving our own home and outdoor space into one for learning and play.

Whether you are a traditional classroom teacher looking to expand lessons into your outdoor space, a parent looking to revamp your own outdoor space before summer break hits or you have no particular designated outdoor space at all but want to bring some nature based learning on-the-go, I've got you covered here in this three part post series on creating an outdoor "classroom." I am handling the word classroom rather delicately because I fear that the word itself gives forth an image of sitting sedentary at a desk with a pencil and paper at hand. I truly believe some of the most valuable learning experiences come from an opportunity to move, explore, discover, and create. Nature is a fabulous place for this to occur! Perhaps one day our indoor learning spaces will catch up to that concept and we will see these opportunities reflected inside the early childhood classroom.

Go outside and play! I don't think there was a single sentence I heard more frequently as a child during the warmer months of school vacation. And play, I did! For hours on many days. But don't get me wrong--there was plenty of learning happening there as well, and you, too, can inspire children to learn in a natural environment. In this first part of my series, I'll introduce my seven subtopics of building an outdoor classroom:

• Plant, Tend & Grow a Garden
• Literacy Outside
• Math Outside
• Science Outside
• Play Outside
• Art Outside
• Bringing It Inside

In Part 2 of the series, I will talk more specifically about doing this on a small budget, in a small space. In Part 3, I will talk about doing this in no space at all and creating nature-on-the-go kits for your family, friends and/or community.

1. Plant, Tend & Grow a Garden: Whether you've gardened before or have a brown thumb, whether you have a huge yard or a small pot, I encourage you to plant, tend and grow something with your children. Gardens are a place where the six other areas of learning I've targeted happen all at once, without specific planning. Through gardening, we learn about the process and miracle of a tiny seed growing into a plant, a flower, a fruit or a vegetable, perhaps even a tree. We meet our "neighbors" in many forms. We experience the farm to table journey whether or not we have the farm. We dig in dirt, we expose ourselves to a vast microbiome of organisms both visible and invisible to the naked eye. We have the opportunity to fail in the safety of the garden--to experience our hand in a process that is so very out of our hands. This is a beautiful mirror to life and through the garden, it is made accessible to hands of all ages. I often wonder at how anyone could love to garden and not be completely fascinated by a weed. Whereas a rose bush is so finicky even the thought of the pH changing in your soil might send it wilting away to its early demise, a dandelion finds itself a crack in the sidewalk and thrives. Gardens are truly a place of wonder and fascination. A few things to consider as you set out to plant, tend, and grow your garden:

• What should I plant? When it comes to planting with children, you should plant whatever you want! Don't be afraid to fail--it can and it will happen, even to an experienced gardener. I would recommend starting off simply and not biting off more than you can chew. Consider planting flowers that attract helpful pollinators and support native species in your area.  Maybe you'd like to plant a food garden with vegetables, herbs and fruits. Perhaps you might pick a few favorites or try a new variety. I would recommend against planting something you don't like to eat. If you end up with an abundance and more than you can use, sharing among neighbors and friends is a great way to build community. Also consider planting things that can be explored and enjoyed with all of the senses--plants that can be touched (succulents hold up well), plants with a unique smell (herbs are fabulous), plants in a variety of colors and textures and heights to be visually appealing (think giant mammoth sunflowers or a rainbow of flowers and veggies), plants that taste amazing picked right off the vine (like cherry tomatoes or strawberries), and plants that can add an element of sound (like a dried out gourd or the sound of birds and bees flocking to pollinate your native wildflowers).

2. Literacy Outside: Reading and writing tend to be indoor activities, but they don't have to be restricted to a location with 4 walls and a roof. Here are some ways to encourage reading and writing outdoors in your yard and beyond:

• Garden signs for a print rich environment: Using signage in your garden and yard is a great way to expose your little learners to literacy through printed word. Even pre-readers can appreciate labels and signs in print, especially if they include pictures as well. There are many creative ways to make your own garden signs, whether it's to label your plants, different learning areas or even as an art installment.
  
  

• Chalk is a great medium for outdoor writing/drawing. I keep a tightly sealing tin stocked with chalk in a variety of sizes and colors at the ready for outdoor play. It can be used on pavement, walls, fences and sidewalks and will wash away at the next rain!

• Letter and word rocks and/or manipulatives: One great way to bring letters and literacy outdoors on a shoestring budget is to write letters and/or words (even draw pictures) on rocks with acrylic paint pen. One of my favorite first ways to introduce this is with the letters in your children's names. From there, you can work a whole alphabet, word rocks for building sentences, stories or poetry and even illustrated story rocks for accompanying a good book or creating your own outdoor story. Letter manipulatives from indoors can also be brought outside, like alphabet magnets or blocks. These are great for outdoor letter/word scavenger hunts!

• Bring a book! Whether it's a field guide, a favorite nature themed children's book or just some of your usual favorites, there's no reason you can't bring books outside. We love reading outdoors, whether it's on cozy picnic blanket, in some lawn chairs or even at the park. Consider setting up a cozy outdoor area especially for reading if you have a covered and shady location and the space/budget to include some cozy places to sit and read.

• Nature journals and clipboards are great ways to bring literacy outdoors and on the go. I'll touch on this more in the last post of our series.

• Create a Garden Observation Station for recording weather, garden, wildlife or other nature updates and news using a dry erase board or chalk board. Markers or chalk can be stored in an airtight container. If you wish to create a permanent sign/label on it you can do so with acrylic paint pen and a spray of acrylic adhesive to preserve it. Ideally, this will do best long term in an area with some overhead coverage/protection from the elements. Chalk boards and dry erase boards can often be found inexpensively at secondhand stores or on discount at big box stores. This is a great way to infuse other areas of learning with literacy as well!
  

we used a ruler and chalk to measure and record
the height of our mammoth sunflowers last
summer--they grew taller than the tallest
member of our family!

3. Math Outside is more natural than you'd think! Nature is abundant in loose parts and manipulatives for counting, grouping, weighing, measuring, creating geometric shapes and more. Opportunities for measurement, sorting/comparison, estimation, math operations, fractions, patterns and more are everywhere you look in nature--and you needn't look far. Bringing out some tools from indoors can also enrich mathematical thinking and learning outside. Plastic rulers and tape measures can be made available for measuring plant growth, circumference of a tree trunk, area of a garden bed... A balance scale can be brought out to compare weights of different produce. (How many cherry tomatoes does it take to equal the weight of one large tomato?) Planting seeds encourages counting by twos. Designing flower gardens can encourage pattern recognition. Can you sort a collection of pine cones by size from small to large? Can you use a stick as a tool of measurement and measure how tall your friend is? Can you use sticks or rocks to trace shapes drawn in chalk?

4. Science Outside: This one seems almost self explanatory. Nature and the garden are full of scientific discoveries waiting to be made by scientists young and old alike. You could create an entire year's worth of science curriculum by planting, growing, harvesting and seed saving/preserving your garden harvest or observing seasonal changes in trees or animal behavior. Some creative and simple additions to your outdoor space can also encourage scientific discovery and observation.

• Create a weather station to explore wind, rain accumulation, temperature and weather patterns. You can document what you see in your nature journal or at your garden observation station board, or simply bring it into natural conversation. Outdoor thermometers and rain gauges are often available at dollar stores in the Spring and you can also peruse Pinterest for ways to make your own rain gauge, rain barrels or even pinwheels. And one way to learn about and appreciate different types of weather in all seasons is to get outside in different types of weather in all seasons. "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."

• Follow their lead and run with it! Children ask a billion questions outdoors. Don't be afraid to say you don't know--but don't stop there either. If your little one stumps you with a question about tree stumps, make it into a journey for the answers. Start outside and venture on to the library or the internet to learn more. If your child has a particular interest, infuse your outdoor experience with books, learning opportunities and maybe even some local field trips to explore the topic further.
•  Sensory experiences are so important to early learning and nature is indeed a fabulous place to explore them. While many outdoor experiences might be plagued by warnings to keep off the grass or not touch the plants, your outdoor space can be one that encourages a hands (nose, mouth, ears and eyes) on experience. I do think it is important and necessary for children to learn to respect natural spaces, leaving living things that are still growing intact when necessary and being mindful of keeping the environment safe for all who inhabit it. But consider planting a succulent garden children can touch to explore textures. Or allowing for a small plot or large planter where they are the master gardener with your help, not the other way around. You might even create your own snipping garden as we have, with a selection of small/inexpensive plants, flowers or herbs that are OK to be cut and harvested for mud pies, fairy potions and other important uses.

Scissors are made ready and available. In a world of
"no's" I like to get to the "yes's" and a space where cutting
is OK helps to preserve the ones where it isn't.

• The right tools to encourage scientific observation can also enhance your outdoor learning. Magnifying glasses, prism lenses, binoculars, field guides, opportunities and spaces to write, draw and record, tools for measurement and weighing and containers for collecting natural treasures both nonliving and living (temporarily) are a great addition to make over time to your outdoor space. Consider how you might store these to be ready to take on-the-go or whether you will have items that can be stored and remain outdoors ready for access.

5. Play outdoors: It seems almost not even worth mention, but I do give honorary mention to the topic of play outdoors because it does seem an area that is underdeveloped in many young children these days and increasingly less offered in traditional school settings and even playgrounds. I value and love the whole playground experience, don't get me wrong. Children have a lot of fun on playground equipment and it supports a lot of developmental areas as well. However, I also think that playground equipment and traditional outdoor toys often replace the wonder and curiosity of the outdoors in its natural state. Just observe a child in an outdoor space without a swing-set, slide and colorful plastic toys to see that incredible acts of play occur with a stick, some rocks and pine cones and perhaps a bit of mud. And since I am not an all-or-nothing type of gal, I encourage you to blend the use of both these types of items in your nature space. Creating an outdoor space that sparks wonder does not need to break your back or your budget. You might consider some of the following ideas:

• MUD PLAY--just add water! I am a huge fan of dirt in all forms, especially mud. Whether you set up a formal mud kitchen as we have or just supply some pots, pans and spoons for mixing a nice pile of dirt and a water source, you have an instant recipe for wonder and play that you simply can't go wrong with. Your kids may come in covered from head to toe, but research points increasingly to the many health benefits--both physical and emotional--of playing in dirt and mud! I try to step back from this and be as much an outsider as possible, allowing for creative and imaginative play to happen in our garden on its own time frame. I, of course, graciously accept any mud cakes and coffee and stone soup that are offered, but I allow for this muddy world of creation and imagination to be their own and not one I dictate for them. In addition to mud, consider adding elements of foliage, rocks and pebbles, pine cones and seeds, pods and chunks of wood, petals and flowers and of course, plenty of sticks!

• Small world play with natural and manufactured loose parts is a great way to spark wonder in the garden. Tiny toys and people and animals brought from indoors can ignite the imagination of little ones playing outdoors. Fairy gardens and fairy houses can be created with thought and intention or on the go after a yard or neighborhood scavenger hunt to collect materials.

• Create an "I Wonder" Station: Don't be overwhelmed or alarmed if your children don't naturally take to playing and exploring independently outdoors. Creating an "I Wonder" Station (ours is merely a plant hook with a sign attached) can make your outdoor classroom a real destination! Add on a basket with a book and activity, an intriguing question or idea, some silks and fabrics for building forts or making costumes, some puppets for an outdoor puppet show, some little fairies and dollhouse furniture to add to small world play... You will see that when play is nurtured, similarly to a young seedling, it strengthens and develops and will become more independently sustainable.
• Dramatic play outdoors can be set up just as it would indoors. You may need to take into consideration toys and tools that can be left in the elements versus ones that need to be sheltered inside. A mud kitchen could become a restaurant--children could even write/draw menus and recipe books to be laminated and used. An outdoor table could also turn into a mad scientist's lab with containers for mixing colorful water and baking soda/vinegar potions or a tool bench for young woodworkers to build or a potting shed with recycled pots, gardening tools and artificial flowers or fruits/vegetables for growing, harvesting and potting. I like to hold to the motto here (and in all areas of learning) that anything you can do inside can be brought outside. It simply requires some extra planning and creativity.

6. Art Outside is all around us. Inspiration has been found outdoors for as long as time itself. Art can be in the form of painting, sculpture, loose parts arrangement, photography and more. You can create art that is permanent and brought indoors to display or displayed outdoors in your yard or garden. From still life to wildlife, the options are as vast as the imagination and expansion of nature itself. I'd also encourage you to expose your little learners to nature inspired art around town, in other gardens and museums as well. I'd also encourage allowing for young nature-inspired artists to use real art materials as they create--such as quality watercolors, chalks, pastels, potters clay, pencils/charcoals, quality paper and so forth. 

• Consider different working surfaces and environments such as portable easels for vertical work, clipboards and sketch books for art on the go and even how working in different spaces and at different times of day can encourage a different artistic experience. Lastly, I encourage you to join in! You don't have to be "artistic" to create art. Seeing adults engaged and participating allows children to maintain their natural sense of artistic inspiration without being plagued by the sense of perfectionism that led to our own adult inhibitions.
• BIG Art and Messy Art projects are perfect for outdoors! You're likely to have more space outside for large scale art projects and it's also a great space for messier art projects. Think foot painting instead of fingerpainting. Or "paint" balloon tossing. Or "fly swatter splat painting."  Just be mindful to clean up anything that could be harmful to the environment.
• Art with natural materials can be a great way to create outdoors. Sure, nature provides an incredible muse for capturing beauty on paper (or canvas)--but what about ditching the paint brushes for some nature-made "brushes" using cut flowers, pine cones or interesting leaves and branches...

7. Bringing it INSIDE: Sure, many of us would like to stay outside forever, but eventually we do need to go inside. Here are a few ways you might consider bringing a bit of the outdoors in with you:

• Nature inspired activities inside can bring actual objects from nature indoors or natural concepts into learning and play. Perhaps you set up an indoor still life or set out a basket of tree "blocks" and natural loose parts for building and designing. Maybe you plant and grow an indoor fairy garden, terrarium or kitchen herb garden in your kitchen window.

• Set up a Nature Table that includes items both found outdoors in nature and nature-inspired ones created or found indoors. Change out your Nature Table through the seasons and year to capture changes outside and important family celebrations or traditions.

• Head to the kitchen to cook, bake or create with your garden harvest! From homemade breads, jams, cookies, build your own salad or pizza nights and even homemade playdough--you can use elements collected from your garden and even (carefully) foraged to create recipes to eat or play with. You might even mix up a batch of something to bring back outside such as a delicious picnic lunch or even a jar of homemade bubbles.

• Nature based field trips are another category I include in "bringing it inside." Visiting the garden nursery, the library, the farmer's market or produce stand, even local farms, museums and public gardens are all ways you can bring nature based learning with you after it's time to come inside.

Well, if you've made it this far, you are well on your way to creating or enhancing your own outdoor classroom. The idea of creating an outdoor classroom is similar to that of creating a garden--you want a space that with your nurturing care and attention can be sustainable and maintain growth. Like an indoor classroom, you will need to adapt and make changes over time. Like a garden, you will need to give it love, light and attention. You and your children will harvest and reap the benefits well beyond the healthy doses of vitamin D. Join us for the next (shorter, I promise) installments of this series as we explore making some of these installments on a small budget in a small space and how to take it completely mobile with no designated space at all. Until then, get outside and...

Happy Playing!