Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning: Using the Outdoors as an Instructional Tool, K-8

by Herbert Broda

Schoolyard-Enhanced Using the Outdoors as an Instructional Tool K-8' shows how the school groundsregardless of whether your school is in an urban, suburban, or rural settingcan become an enriching extension of the classroom. In this comprehensive handbook, Herb Broda blends theory and practice, providing readers with practical suggestions and teacher-tested activities for using the most powerful audio-visual tool availablethe outdoors. Emphasizing the practical, this innovative book offers teachers step-by-step guidance to help ensure success when they take a class outside. It Background that helps present the case for outdoor educational theory that supports the concept; overview of the terminology; research on the benefits related to student achievement; alignment of outdoor learning with current teaching practices. Ideas for making the schoolyard an effective outdoor the planning process; enhancing and maintaining the site; developing gardens and attracting wildlife; finding community resources and funding. Advice on working with a class garnering administrative and parental support; considerations before going out; making the most of your outdoor time; using GPS as an educational tool; building on the outdoor experience back in the classroom. An array of proven activities that utilize the activities related to specific subject areas; activities that teach process skills; activities that encourage initiative and build community.At a time when children' s natural curiosity about the outdoors is eclipsed by the demands of busy schedules and the ever-present glow of video screens, schools may be the only place where they are encouraged to interact with nature. Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning can help teachers unlock the powerful learning experiences that exist just beyond the classroom door.

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2007

Reviews

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many good ideas and resources on how to bring the classroom outside and how it helps learning.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read book, gives an overview on the importance of nature and place-based education for children. Nothing new there. A chapter on setting up your schoolyard, some how-to basics, a chapter on curriculum links, on off-school sites (hikes, residential, etc), some team-building ideas, GPS ideas too. Not a lot of actual activities, mostly ideas and encouragement for the reader to develop their own ideas.

The most useful section is Ch 4 which has specific activities for developing observation skills and get-to-know nature activities. Mostly introductory type that are actually good for camps or youth programs more than actual lessons.

A general resource with some value.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource and introduction to using the outdoor schoolyard as a means to teach academics to students. Author justifies why outdoor learning is important and gives examples of ideas that are standards based in most states. This book helped inspire me to use the outdoors more often with my students and was especially useful after I attended a conference in July that exposed me to this book and many of these ideas.