9 Exciting Outdoor Learning Activities Kids Will Love

 

On average, American children spend less than seven minutes a day outdoors and more than seven hours a day in front of a screen. Because of these numbers, many parents and educators are looking for outdoor learning opportunities to bring children back to the natural world. The great outdoors offers children countless learning opportunities, along with increased physical activity, critical thinking, self-confidence, teamwork and much more.

 Learning outdoors doesn't have to be just for primary school-age kids. learning levels and age groups.If you're an educator or a parent interested in getting kids off electronic devices and outdoors, here are nine engaging activities for outdoor learning:

 

1.Practice Lettering

Lettering is an important skill for young children to master learning to develop. learn to read and write. This skill is attractive to practice in nature. Children can use sticks, rocks, or other found objects as "writing" tools to encourage imaginative play.Additionally, challenging children to recognize letters shaped like trees or clouds can help them practice high-frequency words, an important skill for young readers.

 

2. Memory Game

Consider using colored bricks to help students hide under leaves or rocks and then let them use their memory to find them. Giving students the task of identifying and remembering landmarks as they walk down a trail or a trail in the woods will help improve their memory retention.In general, memory games help develop a child's attention, focus, and concentration.

 

3.Learning Numbers

There are many opportunities for children to learn simple math in nature as the outside world provides a constant environment for quantification. Young children can practice number order using objects such as sticks and leaves stacked in groups. It's also fun to challenge kids to find numbers that occur naturally in nature, like the leaves of a three-leaf clover or the legs of a spider.Practices like these also enhance a child's visual association.

 

4.Texture Scavenger Hunt

Learning new words and their meanings is always important to expanding a child's reading and communication skills. A texture scavenger hunt offers fun and challenging exercise for young minds. Simply place four objects with different textures in four separate boxes and ask each child to close their eyes, reach for the boxes and describe the objects.The activity can be made more challenging for older children by asking them to 'only use words that start with the letter C' or 'describe the different objects with words that rhyme'. In any case, vocabulary games promote a child's understanding and fluency.

 

5.Gardening

Many studies have shown the positive physical and psychological benefits of spending time in a garden. Young children experience stress and worry just like adults do, but they often lack the language or defenses to process these complicated emotions. Gardening can help. .Consider giving each child a flower or vegetable to plant in the school garden or at home and encourage them to take care of it throughout the school year.Not only do you get a chance to practice responsibility, but gardening is a great way to learn about biology, ecology, nutrition, etc.

 

6.Team Sports

Team sports improve collaboration and communication skills while helping to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety . Beach volleyball, soccer or outdoor basketball, for example, can teach children to work together towards a common goal.Breaking up in teams, assigning positions, encouraging each other's progress, and receiving feedback from the teacher or adult facilitator are lessons that lead to greater emotional intelligence. In addition, regular physical activity has been shown to be beneficial for children with ADHD.

7.Nature Walk

A nature walk is a great learning and exploring activity.Children can learn about native flowers, birds, insects, plants and trees and practice identifying them as they walk. It can be fun to let kids keep a nature journal where they can draw and record what they discover on their walks. This practice encourages them to interact with nature with curiosity and wonder. Additionally, hiking provides an excellent opportunity to practice navigation skills through map reading, using a compass, and understanding trail markers.

 

8.Beach/Park/Forest Cleanup

Giving children the opportunity to learn about the land helps them be more responsible and respectful of nature and all living things. First, start by taking the kids to the beach, park, or community setting. Place. There you can talk to them about the importance of keeping common areas clean and tidy. Then give them materials and instructions for picking up trash.This is also a great way to teach them about recycling and waste sorting. This activity is not only fun and useful for the community, but also promotes environmental awareness among young people.

 

9.Art inspires students

Nature is one of the greatest sources of creativity. and inviting children to find inspiration for art while interacting with nature is a wonderful activity for self-expression.Consider taking students to an open field or waterfall and having them create an artwork in response to their time there. This can be a photo, a collage, a drawing, a poem, a song or a dance. In general, providing the time for a young mind to contemplate and then respond to the natural world connects their individual existence to the larger, more global experience.

 

Benefits of learning outdoors

Many parents express a desire to reinforce non-academic skills during school that can be developed through being outdoors. Outdoor learning, in particular, helps children learn:

• Resilience
• Adaptability
• Responsibility
• Curious Thinking
• Creativity
• Self-Confidence
• Self Esteem
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Self Regulation

The world is increasingly dependent on technology and it is vital that parents and educators continue to emphasize the value and importance of spending time in nature with children. Start small eg. For example, blocking out an hour of outdoor play a day or enrolling your child in a nature day camp can be the first step in their journey to learning about nature.