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Help And Advice On Teaching With Outdoor Classrooms

Many primary and secondary schools are starting to think

about the learning opportunities offered by the great

outdoors. As nations and governments around the world slowly

become more sensitive to environmental issues, teachers are

thinking more and more about how to educate the next

generation about the importance of the environment. Since

some children have never had the chance to interact with

true green spaces, it is key to instill an appreciation of

nature and its benefits when enjoyed responsibly.

School Gardens

One way that schools are teaching kids about sustainable

practices is by building and maintaining gardens that can be

used as outdoor classrooms. In big cities like New York,

these gardens are often constructed on roof tops. Gardens

are an especially popular form of outdoor classroom because

of the rising risk of childhood obesity. Teaching children

about where their food comes from and about what kinds of

food are good for you is one of the best ways to encourage

healthy lifestyle and diet choices. Many city kids have no

idea that a lot of the food they see in a supermarket was

once growing in the ground. A school garden really opens

their eyes and gives them a fresh perspective on something

they take for granted.

City Farms

Another way to educate children about where their food

originates is the city farm. Urban farming is growing, and

it is an excellent way to introduce city kids to both

different crops and to farm animals. London has been a

leader in urban farms, with the earliest dating from the

1970s. Some of the farms are set up for educational

purposes, and taylor their activities around showing a slice

of the countryside to children who have never seen a

vegetable garden before, much less a cow or a sheep. Other

farms are working urban areas that sell their produce, but

nonetheless often welcome the chance to educate the next

generation on sustainable local farming practices.

Outdoor Classroom Area

A simple way that many schools are setting up environmental

education is by utilizing the green spaces they already have.

This could be something as basic as sports fields or a bit of

nearby stream. The important thing is to put children into

outdoor settings where they can have a little fun getting

their hands dirty while learning to appreciate the natural

world.

Some schools are starting gradually and merely setting up

shaded outdoor areas for teachers to use in nice weather.

Even something as simple as sitting in an outdoor teaching

environment can begin to foster a pleasure for being outside

in the natural world.

Outdoor Education: Methods and Strategies

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