Opening the Door to the Outdoor Classroom

1
(No Transcript)
2
Opening the Door to the Outdoor Classroom
3
Outcomes

• By the end of this presentation, you will
• Be aware of how Cedar Grove has integrated
  curriculum content with the No Child Left Inside
  movement.
• Explore how you can access safe, effective, and
  frequent lessons that connect curriculum content
  outdoors.
• Review how to ensure a comfortable and valuable
  learning experience for you and your students.

4
No Child Left Inside Act of 2009
http//www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid687
Governor OMalleys Executive
Order http//www.dnr.state.md.us/education/childre
n_nature/
MCPS Comprehensive Calendar 20092010 Teaching
and Learning Through Environmental Awareness
http//www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/department
s/publishingservices/PDF/compcal.pdf
5
Benefits of Using the Outdoors for Learning

• increased attendance
• increased physical activity
• reduced ADHD symptoms
• decreased disciplinary referrals
• increased authentic experiences
• increased student achievement
• increased teacher job satisfaction
• increased success for all students

6
Research Shows

• A positive, statistically significant
  relationship between schools with the Maryland
  Green School designation and higher reading and
  math achievement on the Maryland State
  Assessments.
• Maryland Green Schools are those schools who
  have applied for and received certification
  through the Maryland Association of Environmental
  and Outdoor Educators (MAEOE).

A sampling of green schools
7
Research Also Shows

• American children, on average, are spending only
  30 minutes of unstructured time outdoors each
  week. So wouldnt it be great if we could get
  them outside more often AND make learning more
  meaningful?

8
Have you ever thought about
9
using the outdoors to teach Social Studies?
10
using the outdoors to teach Math?
11
using the outdoors to make interdisciplinary
connections
12
Safety First!

• Instruct safe science observation practices, such
  as safe touching, no tasting.
• Emphasize the expectation that all students
  remain with the group while walking around the
  school grounds.
• Inform the main office prior to any outdoor
  excursion!
• Clean hands and equipment upon returning to the
  classroom.

13
Foster Positive Attitudes

• Replace outdoor activity with field
  experience or field work.
• Refer to the students as scientists, botanists
  or zoologists.

Let's

• Replace eeewww or gross with interesting or
  cool or I wonder or I think...

14
Best Practices for Teachers

• Integrate Learning

• Make connections

• Brainstorm inquiry topics

• Encourage questions!

15
Creating Professional Learning Communities for
Teachers using the Outdoors as a Classroom

• Collaborate with other colleagues.
• Keep up on local environmental issues!

• Take advantage of professional development
  opportunities.
• Support our Maryland Green School recertification
  process.

16
So, what can we do at Cedar Grove so that no
child is left inside?
17
UsingEE-02 Teaching Techniques for Outdoor
Education Get Kids Outside
For example...
Claire Gardner 5-12-09
18
Why is this time well spent?The Maryland No
Child Left Inside CoalitionEnsuring
environmental literacyStrengthening students
connection to nature during the school dayHow
could it NOT be time well spent?
19
Report Who?Borrowed second gradersWhat?Jour
nalingCapturing thoughts or observations of
natureEncouraging constructive thought about
the environmentMaking associations with past
experiences to make sense of observationsWhere?
School courtyardTree selected for its unusual
characteristicsWhen?For this project End of
March Early May about once a week
20
The Real Reason Raising awarenessof natural
surroundings through the vehicle of journaling.

• February 24, 2009

• May 5, 2009

21
Preparation

• Choose a time period that will cover seasonal
  changes
• Choose a location that will provide many sensory
  experiences
• Determine how much information you want the
  students to discover (how soon are you willing
  to share the informational texts)
• Determine how often to visit the location
• Choose appropriate informational texts
• Be a good model record in your own journal
• Materials?

22
Observing and
Recording
23
Researching and
Identifying
24
Comparing and
Describing
25
Exploring and
Explaining
26
Measuring and
Converting
27

• Review So What?
• Evaluation
• Students constructed knowledge.
• Students applied evidence and reasoning.
• Students communicated scientific information.
• Created opportunity to ensure the development
• of environmental literacy.
• Strengthened students connection to nature
• during the school day.

28

• Insights into student learning
• Students are not accustomed to having free
• writing can we, do we, are we allowed
  to
• Students test new information based on their past
  knowledge and experiences (Is that algae?
  referring to moss)
• Students realize the potential (Hey, this is
• science AND math!)
• When can we go to see our tree again?

29
and during sneak preview this summer
30
2nd grade studied insects and ants

• so we researched an insect and created
  Kidspiration webs.
• and then we went outside!

31
What happens when we leave fruit outside?
32
(No Transcript)
33
4th graders researched the different Chesapeake
Bay Habitats

• so we created our habitat webs.
• and then we went outside!

34
Open Waters Habitat
35
Aquatic Reef Habitat
36
5th graders researched the planets

• so we created our travel brochures in Publisher
  taking a vacation from earth.
• and then we went outside!

37
Measuring our planets orbit from the sun
38
Examining the orbiting difference between planets
39
Oh, and having fun!
40
That was just a preview of what was to come! So
far this year
41
Weve been outside to

• Journal based on observations (even using
  poetry)!
• Compare types of motion variable, uniform, and
  periodic!
• Measure tracings!
• Create patterns with natural objects!
• List different construction materials!
• Find and measure wind speed with our anemometer!
• Collect signs of Fall!
• Classify leaves!

42
Weve changed our mission for the 2010 Science
Fair to

• Enlist more student participation.
• Change the name to Cedar Grove Science Inquiry
  Expo to emphasize the inquiry process.
• Create a timeline for the completion of each
  phase of the inquiry process, focusing on using
  the components of a well-designed investigation.
• Provide opportunities for students/parents to
  perform simple investigations during Expo.
• Use local scientists and HHMI science educator
  volunteers as presenters during expo.

43

• Were using all our resources
• MCPS Content Curriculum
• The science lab
• Our courtyard
• Our science kits
• Field Trips
• The media center
• Experts from our community

So the question is How can you encourage No
Child Left Inside in your classroom?
44
(No Transcript)