Tips & Tricks for
Teaching Outdoors
Prepared by Cara Rieckenberg, Environmental Education Coordinator
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
crieckenberg@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us
Why use the schoolyard as a classroom?
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Allow students to gain an appreciation and awareness of
natural resources
Provide authentic learning opportunities
Develops critical thinking skills
Exposure to a dynamic environment for inquiry
Opportunities to encounter real-life situations
Research shows time in nature and exposure to natural
settings proves to be highly beneficial for the treatment of
children who have ADHD, anxiety, depression, cognitive
and behavior disorders, autism and sensory disabilities
Why use the schoolyard as a classroom?
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Provide easy access, on-site field trips
Empower students
Affirm a place and role for humans in the environment
Build community
Transform and beautify the schoolyard
Reduce landscape maintenance needs (labor and cost)
Provide a context for teaching across all subject areas
Provide new ways to meet the needs of all students
Why use the schoolyard as a classroom?
Why use the schoolyard as a classroom?
Design, Build, Construct,
Plan, Produce, Devise
Check, Judge, Critique,
Experiment, Test, Detect
Compare, Organize,
Question, Research,
Do, Carry Out, Use,
Run, Implement
Interpret, Summarize,
Explain, Classify, Infer
Recall, List, Find, Recognize,
Locate, Describe
A Schoolyard Classroom can be…
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As small or as big as a…
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Amphitheater
Archaeological Area
Bird Feeder and Baths
Bird Sanctuary
Boulder Garden
Butterfly Garden
Compost Pile
Erosion-Control
Demonstration Area
Insect Traps
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Nesting Boxes
Orienteering Course
Prairie Patch
Rain Garden
School Forest
Soil Profile Area
Squirrel Observatory
Tree Trail
Vegetable Garden
Weather Station
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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If you see something interesting, be prepared to answer
questions about it or say “I don’t know. Let’s look it up
when we get back.” It is okay for teachers to learn new
things along with their students.
When speaking, face into the sun or at an angle. It is easy
to lose an audience’s attention if they are looking into the
sun. Keep the sun to their backs.
Sunglasses inhibit eye contact with your audience and
should be avoided when speaking to a group.
Allow plenty of time to stop; let students explore,
discover and get dirty!
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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Expect teachable moments. It is okay to temporarily stop
discussing the lesson to explore the moment.
Uses the senses to explore an object. Make sure all
senses are being used when safe. (Except of course taste.)
Set boundaries as necessary and make sure all the
students know them.
Do frequent head counts.
Spend time with your students reflecting on the outdoor
experience. Focus on the new lessons learned and the
positive experiences.
Have fun!!
PLSAS Outdoor Learning Guidelines
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Use quiet voices and feet
Stay on the trails or where a teacher has indicated as safe
and appropriate
Selectively choose samples
Return samples to where they were taken
Unless directed, leave nature where it is (leaves on the
ground, twigs on the trees, flowers on the plants, etc.)
Always be in a spot where the teacher can be seen and
the teacher can see them
Keep up with the teacher so they don’t miss anything
If you see litter, pick it up or tell the teacher
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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In the Beginning…
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Baby steps
Create, review and practice clear and specific guidelines for
behavior
Create, review and practice signals
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Whistle – 1 whistle = look at me; 2 whistles = come to me; 3
whistles = return to door where entered outdoor classroom
Look without talking
Start small and build gradually – both with time, lesson
objectives and expectations of accomplishments
Repeat activities building upon objectives, expectations and
time outdoors
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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Always…
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Review clear expectations of behavior
Establish clear objectives so students know what should be
accomplished within the time allotted
Hold students accountable for learning in the outdoor
classroom
Stop activity if guidelines are not being followed including
safety of students and even nature
Bring a cell phone or walkie talkie
Let the office know where you are
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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Keep them focused…
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Write out questions about the hike/activity on index cards.
Occasionally have students read their cards out loud.
Provide paint color chips for students to match to natural
items.
Instead of having students answer questions or write
observations, create a BINGO board with the same
information requiring students to draw pictures or use
descriptive sentences
Use the words “Pay Attention” instead of “Look” or “Listen”
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Outdoors
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On the trail…
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Lead the students past the object you want to talk about. Then
go back to the middle of the group so everyone can see the
object and hear you.
Bring a hula hoop or rope to put around the object so it does
not get trampled.
If possible, keep an adult at the beginning and end of the group.
If not possible, the one adult should walk in the middle with a
slower student assigned to be the leader.
Questions that need to be answered
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What about if class is outside and there is a lock down
(drill or otherwise)? Fire drill?
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Fire Drill – go to designated location
Lockdown Drill – go to neighborhood house
Questions that need to be answered
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What about students that are not dressed appropriately
for the weather?
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Students need to stop at lockers first and meet at designated
location
Use Coat Room as location for getting jackets??
Buy classroom set of jackets??
Need a policy (Leadership Team needs to create)
Remember students with physical challenges (Wilderness
Inquiry)
Letter needs to be sent home that we are environmental
school, there is an expectation of outdoor learning (Principal is
writing letter, Kari will put on website, will be distributed at
open house)
Questions that need to be answered
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Does sign up need to be established for designated
Outdoor Classroom?
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What about students with epi-pens? Inhalers?
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By Beverly’s classroom??
Website calendar??
Environmental Committee is going to design/create/manage
Ideally students should have these with
Can the nurse let teachers now who has these for
environmental allergies?
Is a First Aid kit needed to go outdoors?
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Yes. Nurse needs to get this organized. Do individual
classrooms have bandaids/gloves/etc in ziploc bags? If so, should
bring those out.
To do for Environmental Committee
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Inquiry boxes – 1 or 2 per department – who will
organize? Keep inventoried (if needed)? Manage?
Designated outdoor classrooms (plural) – can a map be
created and posted in the staff room or near mailboxes?
Create a sign up for outdoor classrooms – where will it
be located? Who will manage it?
Resources for ‘How to’ of Teaching Outdoors
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MN DNR School Forest
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http://dnr.state.mn.us/schoolforest/outdoorteaching.html
Children and Nature Network
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www.childrenandnature.org