How to Get Teens Learning Outdoors
Spending class time outside can be harder to do as students get older, but movement, fresh air, and connecting lessons with nature can leave teens less stressed and more engaged.
From math to science to language arts, finding ways to apply curriculum beyond the classroom walls and out in the natural world can boost connection to content, spark curiosity, and increase student well-being. In middle and high school, it becomes less common for classes to go outdoors, but no matter the grade, subject, or setting of the campus—urban or rural—teachers can find activities that get students learning in the open air.
To learn more about the research cited in the video, check out the links below.
- Jeff Mann et al.’s systematic review of nature-specific outdoor learning on school children’s learning and development (2022)
- MaryCarol R. Hunter, Brenda W. Gillespie, and Sophie Yu-Pu Chen’s study on how urban nature experiences can reduce stress in the context of daily life (2019)
- Theresa Schilhab’s review of nature experiences and embodied cognition in science education in school (2021)
For more ideas on getting teens outside to learn in English language arts, read Nicholas Provenzano’s article for Edutopia, “How to Facilitate Meaningful Outdoor Learning.” For outdoor lessons specific to science, check out Matt Carity’s “Using Simple Outdoor Science Lessons to Inspire Students,” and for math, look to Alessandra King’s “Finding the Beauty of Math Outside of Class.”