Outdoor Matters!

Designing Outdoor Learning Experiences

Outdoor classrooms connect students with nature and provide opportunities for students to explore all sorts of outdoor learning. This also has the potential of making students aware of personal or community concerns, which may drive them to take an active role in improving the environment.

Green education stimulates the senses and mind. Research has found a strong correlation between a “green school” process and improved schoolwide academic performance on standardized tests in reading, math and science.  In addition, research has demonstrated how outdoor learning supports students’ cognitive functioning, reduces symptoms of attention deficit disorder, increases self-discipline, and boosts emotional well-being.  Outdoor classrooms can help counter an ever-growing nature-deficit disorder - which is the state humans are in when cut off from nature: sense are dulled, attention problems increase, and physical and emotional illnesses are at a higher rate.

With that in mind, Houlton is fortunate to be able to provide students with opportunities to experience their own outdoor classroom!  Sandy Madsen (Master Gardener) will be starting her work at Houlton this Thursday, and is looking for ways to support classroom teachers in their classroom (and outdoor classroom) instruction.  We also have Melissa Dupont (Willow River State Park) who is excited to partner with our teachers and/or school.  And, we have a completed greenhouse that has plenty of outdoor learning space.  So how can we incorporate this into an already packed day?

Time will be set aside to brainstorm ways to incorporate our outdoor learning space at Tuesday’s staff meeting.  Please come to the meeting* with an idea of an IUI or other science/social studies units that could be enhanced with some sort of garden or outdoor learning experience. This includes classroom teachers, specialists, or anyone else that has an idea of how to get our kids outside and learning.  I’m excited to take advantage of the opportunities we have, right here at Houlton.

Thank you!  See you tomorrow morning!
Sue

*If you can’t be there on Tuesday, please share ideas with Sue.