5 Benefits of Outdoor Education

In my public school classroom, we take a couple of field trips a year, if we are lucky.  We go to a play, and the library, and have one outdoor field trip.  Having gone to science school with fifth graders for a couple of years, I have observed the huge benefits of getting outside the classroom.  There is so much outside our four walls that students need to explore and discover about the world around them.

Today, Anne, from Gnature with Gnat, is here to share with you some ways that outdoor education can benefit our students.

I didn’t grow up in a house with much “screen time”.  My sister and I were encouraged to be outdoors as much as possible, and we never had a video gaming system.  We didn’t mind.  We enjoyed being outside.  At the time, I never considered the things I learned while playing in the woods or backyard.  I was too busy building forts, collecting leaves, and making mud and stick “soup” for my parents. (They were less excited about the soup than we were.  Honestly, it stunk quite a bit.)

In retrospect, however, I can see that there was a lot of education happening in my backyard.  Beyond the health benefits of daily exercise, we were learning valuable skills for life. Children today spend on average 8-10 hours per day on electronic media screens.

Although it’s easy to fault parents, schools aren’t helping much either.  Many school districts are highly focused on bringing more technology into the classrooms.  Now, don’t get me wrong- I love using technology.  I’m a blogger, for heaven’s sake.  But there are some real benefits to getting children outdoors.  And not just for exercise.  Here are some ways students can benefit from learning outdoors.

Benefits of Outdoor Education for Students

Kinesthetic learning

Some children excel in school with just worksheets and lectures.  But most students have a better comprehension of academic concepts when they are able to touch, feel, and do.  They want to see the leaves, do the experiments, and touch the insects. Active, kinesthetic learning is not only more memorable but has also been proven to improve concentration and behavior.

Teamwork

Outdoor projects naturally lend themselves to group work.  However, in the less controlled setting outside the classroom, students need clearly designated responsibilities.

When working outdoors, I regularly assign specific roles to each student in the group.  This promotes cooperation, teamwork and team problem-solving while students work towards a common goal.  The type of teamwork and critical-thinking skills that are encouraged in a group setting are some of the most important skills that employers look for later in life.  Why not start now?

Community stewardship

Outdoor education allows students to see that they are part of a whole.  Exploring their local environment gives students an appreciation and awareness of their community, which causes them to act more consciously.  Perhaps seeing that polluted stream will make children take pause before dumping things down their storm drain, and they can inspire others in the community.

Students can also be encouraged to work with their community organizations to provide important data, discuss environmental impacts in public forums, and write to their legislature about issues to which they are committed.

Academic performance

It probably comes as no surprise that outdoor lessons and environmental education programs are shown to boost understanding of scientific concepts.  In a nation that is increasingly asked to better prepare students for STEM careers, we cannot afford to overlook this information.

Perhaps, though, you’re more concerned about your students gaining ground in math and language arts. Results also show that students that are regularly involved in outdoor education have marked improvements in basic skills and reading.  Standardized test scores including ACT also improve with the use of environmental education.

Real-world problem-solving

Life often appears black and white to children and providing standardized tests with multiple choice answers is continuing this idea.  Unfortunately, the real world does not exist in black and white, especially when discussing environmental issues.  Students need to learn critical thinking skills in order to help society solve a plethora of issues in which there is no “right answer”.

I encourage my students to role-play as citizens with different viewpoints and debate issues such as land use, endangered species, and global warming.  Throughout these situations, students research the impacts of each viewpoint on the community and society.  These societal problem-solving experiences provide them with skills they will need to tackle real-world issues later in life as well.

As a teacher, I am not blind to the reasons educators choose to keep students indoors. Classroom management, planning, student security issues, and lack of instructional time can all make it difficult.  However, I encourage you to look past these barriers and get your students outside whenever possible.  Even for the smallest experiences.  The benefits to you and your students will be evident for years to come.

I am Anne Morgan (a.k.a Gnature with Gnat)- a science educator, wife, and mom of 3 little girls.  My passion is making science accessible and fun for all ages.  My usual blogging spot is at Gnature with Gnat.  For more great science and nature tips, tricks, lessons, and activities, visit my TeachersPayTeachers store.  Please also check out this free lesson to get your students on a path to outdoor education.