Learning Outdoors...Not Such a "Trough" Sell!
- School Year: 2015-2016
- Applicants: Martina Cravedi, Lead Teacher Melissa Behrens, Jackie Makarewicz
- School: Smith
- Subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science
Outdoor classrooms enhance and add to the limited scope of activities available inside confined classrooms by providing for hands-on experiences, physical activity, and multifaceted approaches to cognitive development that connect children to nature and maximize their learning outcomes. This project involves the development of an “outdoor learning environment” through the addition of openended exploratory materials to an existing play area at Smith Elementary School. Fourth grade students will work in collaboration with the younger Pre-K students. The fourth graders will take their “stream table” and erosion science lab to an outdoor, more realistic environment. In addition, the fourth grade students will be “teachers” to the younger students causing them to develop an “ownership” of their learning. Through teamwork and collaboration both classes will “use” the other to further their learning of specific science, math and language arts content.