Learning outside, why not?

Learning outside.

There's something cathartic about sitting outside to learn. Bringing the kids out of the classroom gives them fresh air, freedom and it clears the mind. They can think! Even when I bring myself outside to work or study, it changes my perception of what my tasks are and gives me clarity. And most importantly, I feel less stressed!

We don't need to sit outside only for an art class. Although, while that is nice to do, we can create a comfortable space in which our students can function and work while feeling free of the constraints of the classroom. Nobody likes being cooped up with 30 other humans in a classroom for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. (6 days a week where I live!) We are supposed to have space to breathe. Perhaps it should be a regular thing, though obviously not when it's raining. 

Where I work, we often allow the kids freedom to get out of the classroom to sit on the grass and continue with their work. Some of my colleagues have yoga mats for them to sit on, there's cushions, blankets and deck chairs. However, I think that's a privilege; not everyone has access to those things at school. It can be worth having the PTA organise a donation or collection of those items. 

With this in mind, we can ask ourselves, how can we change our learning environment to improve our students' learning experience? (Some of these suggestions might sound obvious but when we have so many young minds to teach, our perception of our environment can become clouded.)

• Regular change of seating plans
• Change the tables into a different place completely
• Put new artwork on the walls or re organise the posters
• Move the teacher's table, change the view point
• Take time for 5 minute meditation or breathing exercises
• Weather permitting, head outside together and spend time learning in the fresh air
• Give your students time to take turns teaching the class about what they learned and have the kids ask questions. Give guidance. 
• Remember to drink
• It's good fun to learn a song and sing it together, especially to break up the monotony
• Just Dance videos to expend some of that pent up energy (check out some of the videos on YT)
• Reading time
• Writing down or drawing our emotions and feelings
  

I hope these help a little!

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