Students Need Time to Learn in Nature
Technology is wondrous. Over the last 100 years, advances have improved almost every aspect of our lives. But the one thing that has suffered in the process is the amount of time children spend outdoors.
Today, some children sit in front of a computer for almost all their school days. Instead of physically manipulating realia, they move a cursor around on a screen. Other kids attend schools that have cut funding for staff and grounds resulting in PE and recess taking place inside instead of out.
Although much of what happens in school is out of parental control, we can control what happens at home. With just a little planning, the lessons our kids learn after school can be as impactful as those they learn in school. So get them out there, let them get dirty, and most of all, let them be kids!
Nature is an Art Class
Children love to create. Why not turn the outdoors into an after-school art class? With so many colors and textures to choose from, kids will have a blast using items found outside for beautiful projects they can show to the world. Here are a few ideas:
Rock Art
Rocks are everywhere. Find them in wooded areas, near lakes or creeks, in flower beds, or next to roads. Collect everyone’s favorites and find a nice shady spot to sit down. Use the internet to start an impromptu geology lesson by asking your child can identify the types of rocks and how they were formed. Then, get busy decorating!
Children can paint rocks to look like anything they want. Ladybugs, fruit, and animal faces are my personal favorites.
Leaf Rubbing
As the season changes and Fall arrives, art supplies are falling from the sky. Leaf rubbing combines art and botany into a perfectly wholesome activity.
Have your kids collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. Use this time to compare the different leaves and point out the difference between evergreen and deciduous trees.
Once you’ve gathered all the leaves you need, find a flat surface and have your child place the leaves bottom side up. Next, apply a thin sheet of paper on top. Using the side of a crayon, rub gently over the leaf. When finished, frame the rubbing for display in your child’s room.
Be Friends with Bugs
If your kids say “Ewww” to insects, it’s time to teach them that bugs are our friends. Our multi-legged amigos are the largest animal group on Earth and play an essential role in the ecosystem. What better way for kids to learn more about them than seeing them up close?
Head outside with a magnifying glass, a small container, a notebook, and a pencil. Look around bushes, flowers, and the bases of trees. Turn over rocks if needed, and gently collect a few friendly bugs. Put them in the container for a better look with the magnifying glass. Don’t forget to put it back in the wild when you’re finished.
While on the hunt, point out all the different flying insects you see and remind your kids to handle the bugs you find carefully.
Gardens are a Life Lesson
Plants will grow just about anywhere. That’s why it’s so easy to start a garden. Even just a few small pots on a porch or balcony will do.
Gardening is a wonderful project for your family. Creating, tending, and harvesting teaches kids about the stages of plant growth, from seed to fruit or vegetable. It benefits a child’s motor skills and impacts their senses of touch, smell, and sight. Keeping a garden will even teach your children patience and responsibility since plants take time to grow and work to maintain.
About the Author
Hello, I’m Kevin Asher Karnes. I’m a certified English Language Arts and Career and Technical Education teacher at Polytechnic Senior High School in Fort Worth, Texas. I teach beginning to advanced level courses for children in grades 9 thru 12.
As a teacher, my goal is to help my students develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. I design my lessons to accommodate all learning styles and strive to maintain a safe classroom environment that encourages curiosity, risk-taking, and the sharing of ideas.
In addition to managing my classes, I’m the assistant chair of my department, the sponsor of the Content Creator’s Club, a Junior Achievement International Educator, and an ESL and TEFL certified tutor for English learners.
I hold a BA in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, both from the University of Massachusetts. I’m a highly qualified teacher in the state of Texas, certified in English Language Arts and Reading Grades 7 - 12, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science Grades 8 - 12, and English as a Second Language Grades 7 - 12.
In my free time, I enjoy photography, downhill skiing, and cooking with friends.