Outdoor Learning

Harvard studies show that spending time outdoors seems to have many benefits for physical and mental health.  Here are five potential benefits of spending more time outdoors:

1. Your vitamin D levels will go up

The good news is that you'll make all the vitamin D you need if you get outside a few times a week during these summer days and expose your arms and legs for 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, it has to be sunny out.

2. You'll get more exercise (especially if you're a child)

You don't need to be outside to be active: millions of people exercise indoors in gyms or at home on treadmills and elliptical trainers, but being outdoors is associated with activity. Studies have found that the children were more than doubly active when they were outside.

3. You'll be happier (especially if your exercise is 'green')

Light tends to elevate people's mood, and physical activity has been shown to relax and cheer people up, and research has found that exercising in the presence of nature has added benefit, particularly for mental health. Their investigations into "green exercise," as they are calling it, dovetails with research showing benefits from living in proximity to green, open spaces.  In 2010 the English scientists reported results from a meta-analysis of their own studies that showed just five minutes of green exercise resulted in improvements in self-esteem and mood.

4. Your concentration will improve

ADHD studies have suggested that outdoor exercise could have positive effects on the condition, reporting that children with ADHD seem to focus better after being outdoors. 

I encourage you to spend some time outdoors when possible, especially as the weather seems to be improving this week! 

A reminder of our 2nd recess guidelines:

Although we do not have a second recess on the schedule, we encourage outside physical activity.  Here are some guidelines:

1. A 2nd recess for grades K-2 is highly encouraged, especially on non-PE days
2. For grades 3-5, you can use your discretion.  There are no specific limits on the number of 2nd recesses per week but consider PE and non-PE days
3. We highly value teacher-led classroom community-building activities that can take place at any time.

Try to find learning opportunities in our "park" area, or our Houlton Hawk Landing art bench - the speaker is always charged and ready in Julia's office. Enjoy some time outside -

it looks like it's going to be a beautiful week!