Building Tolerance for Outdoor Learning
Building tolerance for weather and desire for being outdoors can be a huge challenge. Are you trying to compete with video games and other online forms of entertainment? One of the most common reasons I hear educators and parents say that outdoor learning is not for them is intolerable weather conditions. Across the globe, we all experience a range of weather conditions from extreme heat to intolerable cold. In this post, I want to share a mindset shift as well as helpful tips to make learning outdoors a place where students can grow and thrive regardless of the weather. It can be a challenge to convince children to do something that they don’t want to do. I’ve heard plenty of excuses as I’m sure you have too.
“I don’t want to go outside!”
“Do we have to?”
“Can we watch a movie instead?”
Start with why
It should be stated clearly here – Please choose to do what you think is best for you and the children in your care. While there are many ideas in this post, not all will be useful for you. Take what you need.
I believe that accessing a child’s desire for outside learning begins with sharing the benefits of outdoor learning. In my public school classroom, I enjoy taking my students outside whether that be just for fun, for physical activity, or during academic lessons. The feedback I get from students and their families is positive. I believe the success of outdoor learning is in large part due to planning and preparation.
At the beginning of the year, we start with learning about the benefits of being outside. We talk about getting fresh air and being able to move our bodies. We share how we feel after having spent some time outside. Children inherently feel and know that being outdoors is a good thing! What we need is a way to capture that memory for when they are resisting an outdoor task. How do we do this?
Be weather-aware
Every day before recess my students ask me what the weather is. We look it up on the weather network, check for temperatures and precipitation. Wind speed is something they look out for too! With this information they are able to ensure that they choose the best clothing and an activity that is suitable to the weather. This kind of decision-making doesn’t happen overnight. It started on the first week of school. Rain? Put our boots on. High UV index? Wear a hat and sunblock.
Find a Project
Getting students engaged in a pleasurable outdoor activity will increase their chances for participation and enjoyment. Do your students love to run and jump and play? Do they enjoy mysteries or scavenger hunts? Are they tactile learners or curious about the outdoor world?
There are many outdoor activities that children can do.
- Bird watching
- Geocaching
- Sports
- Hiking
- Gardening
- Climbing
- Reading
- Journaling
- Art
- Cloud gazing
- Camping
- Fort building
When children are participating in an activity they enjoy, being outdoors will be pleasurable.
Building Tolerance Throughout the Seasons
Canadians love to talk about the weather. Here in most of Canada, we experience all seasons. It is far easier to accept a 4-day rain streak, a weekend snowstorm, or a blisteringly hot summer afternoon whether it is mild, moderate, or severe when you have the right clothing. One of the key determinants of outdoor comfort is having appropriate gear. Classroom discussion about weather preparedness is vital to their understanding of the impact of wearing the right clothes.
On our last outdoor classroom day, we had a class chat about wearing layers of clothing. It is a strategy that works well for changing weather or changing activity levels. Having a change of clothes is helpful too – Think extra socks, mitts, pants. I like to show students what to wear by modeling what I am wearing and, yes, this includes snow pants and a toque.
A Mindset Shift
When you teach a child about nature and about being outdoors, they begin to understand why being outside can be good for their mind, their body, and their heart.
Physical benefits:
- Can decrease cortisol levels
- Can develop muscle strength and coordination
Emotional benefits:
- May reduce stress
- Can increase mindfulness
- Helps to increase self-efficacy
- Can increase confidence
Social benefits:
- Better attitudes towards the environment
- Increases positive behavior
Carol Dweck’s growth mindset concept is important to consider here while we try to integrate outdoor learning into our daily lives.
Dweck describes two mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Children with a fixed mindset believe that you can either do things or not which can be hugely discouraging when faced with challenges Children with a growth mindset believe that with effort comes success or progress and that perseverance, continuous drive forward will allow for improvement.
In my class, we talk about progress over perfection, about making mistakes and taking risks and there are no limits to what can be achieved. Furthermore, we consolidate our learning once we return indoors by sharing our thoughts and feelings about the activities we do outdoors.
Tolerance, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the “relative capacity to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor”.
More ideas on Building Tolerance? Share below.
With the lens of outdoor learning, we can teach children tolerance by ensuring they understand the weather, that they know how to dress appropriately and that they recognize that personal growth (and a growth mindset) can open the doors to a(n outdoor) world of possibilities. See what I did there?
Is building tolerance for outdoor learning something you’re still working on with students? Tell us in the comments your tried and true tips for being outdoors. Still not ready to head outdoors quite yet? That’s totally okay! Try bringing nature books into your read-aloud routine.
