1 / 19

The Outdoor Classroom

The Outdoor Classroom. Dr. Kathleen G. Burriss, Ed.D. Department of Elementary and Special Education Middle Tennessee State University kburriss@mtsu.edu http://www.mtsu.edu/~kburriss. The Outdoor Classroom. What Is It? Who can use it? Where Is It? . The Outdoor Classroom.

lahela
Download Presentation

The Outdoor Classroom

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Outdoor Classroom • Dr. Kathleen G. Burriss, Ed.D. • Department of Elementary and Special Education • Middle Tennessee State University • kburriss@mtsu.edu • http://www.mtsu.edu/~kburriss

  2. The Outdoor Classroom • What Is It? • Who can use it? • Where Is It?

  3. The Outdoor Classroom • Using the outdoors as an integrating context for learning is not focusing the learning about the outdoor environment itself.

  4. The Outdoor Classroom • Environmental awareness is a specific goal, but is not necessarily the same as the outdoor classroom.

  5. The Outdoor Classroom • Allow students with different learning styles and from different backgrounds to experience success. • Fosters different skills and development. • Develops knowledge, understanding and appreciation for the entire community and the natural surroundings.

  6. The Outdoor Classroom • Where is the Out-Of-Doors?

  7. The Outdoor Classroom • Inexpensive • Thoughtful Planning

  8. The Outdoor Classroom • Observing a bird feeding station • Windowsill garden

  9. The Outdoor Classroom • Outside classroom activities require indoor classroom follow-up.

  10. Benefits of the Out-Of-Doors Classroom • Improved student performance including: • Standardized test scores • Grade point average • Willingness to stay on task • Adaptability to various learning styles • Problem solving.

  11. Benefits For Educators • Enhances environmental awareness, • Promotes sensitivity • Increases commitment • Promotes activism

  12. The Outdoor Classroom • Important: Allow children regular intimate engagement with their natural surroundings.

  13. Children With Special Needs • Not merely a logistic placement. •  Plan for students with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities at their highest level possible.

  14. Supporting children with special needs • Be as non stigmatizing and unobtrusive as possible. • Reflect student's right to exercise control over the environment and themselves. Support children's independence.

  15. What To Consider • Develop with input from family members • Monitor and evaluate consistently to insure effectiveness.

  16. What About Your Classroom? • Does the membership promote learning? • Are peers accepting?

  17. Ask Yourself • What are the specific strengths and needs of the child? • Are there aspects of the outdoors that are particularly pleasing? • What are the multi-sensory activities available?

  18. Resources • Project Wild • www.projectwild.org • North American Association for Environmental Education • www.naaee.org • National Wildlife Federation • www.nwf.org

  19. The Outdoor Classroom

More Related