Outdoor Learning
A recent study focusing on children aged 5 to 18 revealed that outdoor education and activities have a multitude of benefits for students. Not only did students exhibit higher levels of self-confidence, stronger friendships, and a greater sense of belonging, but academic performance in math, science, and language also saw an improvement, coupled with increased motivation to learn.
Waldorf education places significant value on diverse forms of outdoor learning and experiences, such as scientific observation, environmental projects, farming and gardening, field trips, and free exploratory play.
Daily experiences in the natural world support healthy development for children on many levels, and our students spend time outdoors in all but the most inclement weather.
Some examples of how outdoor education are woven into the curriculum include:
Fresh air, sunshine, and outdoor work and play foster robust health and strengthen the child’s relationship to the earth for all our students from preschool–grade 8. Nature walks, gardening, running, and climbing all encourage healthy physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.
In second grade, nature stories along with experiences and observations out of doors help provide a foundation for science in the upper grades.
In third grade, practical, hands-on activities such as gardening, helping at a local farm, building shelters, and measurement are part of the curriculum. A three-day trip to a farm where they help care for animals, learn about planting, and prepare the food for their meals is an exciting class experience towards the end of the year.
In fifth grade, the study of Botany provides a multitude of opportunities for observing nature as the students learn about plant life. They investigate formative elements in the plant, highlighting the principle of metamorphosis and the ever-changing forms of roots, stems, leaves, and sepals that find their conclusion in flower and fruit.
In seventh grade, a study of the physical states of matter in Chemistry might find students sitting around a campfire with their teacher making charcoal and conducting flame tests to identify different substances.
In eighth grade Physics, students have first-hand experiences with many different tools and devices and explore the “mechanical advantage” of the different machines and their everyday applications. They might set up a seesaw (a first-class lever), and pairs of students will take turns finding their balance. They will hang different configurations of pulleys to allow the students to lift heavy weights – including themselves and each other.
At the Upper Valley Waldorf School, we make the most of outdoor settings to foster learning.