Beyond the Walls
Extending Learning Beyond the Walls of a Classroom
We can teach from our experience, but we can’t teach experience. - Sasha Azevedo
Denver Museum of Natural History
Park Hill Elementary, Denver, CO
1999 – Moved to Bend
Lava Ridge Elementary, Bend, OR
2008 - Ponderosa Elementary, Bend, OR
Why take kids outside?
Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
“Time in nature is not leisure time, it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.” – Richard
Louv
Depression Rate of prescribed anti-depressants prescribed to children doubled in a 5 yr. period 1998-2002
From 1997-2003 50% decline in proportion of children ages 9-12 who spent time outside hiking, walking, fishing, gardening
ADHD/ADDMany studies suggest spending time in nature is a useful therapy for ADHD/ADD
13 years of classroom anecdotal evidence confirms
Stress/Anxiety Reduction2/26 students had diagnosed anxiety disorders
Over 100 studies show spending time in nature reduces stress
Why take kids outside?Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
The Skinny on FatChildhood Obesity has TRIPLED in last 30 yrs.
Ages 6-11 1980 – 6.5% 2008 – 19.6% Ages 12-19 1980 – 5.0 2008 – 18.1
In U.S. – Children ages 6-11 spend ~ 30 hours/week watching TV or on a computer
Counterintuitive – also the greatest increase in participation in organized sports
Study in Norway/Sweden – preschoolers who played in uneven natural VS flat playgrounds tested higher for motor fitness
Why take kids outside?Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
I know if you’re very good in music, I can predict with zero accuracy whether you’re going to be good or bad in other
things. - Howard Gardner
1983 – 7 intelligences included linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal
2003 – Added Naturalist Intelligence
“Ability to recognize plants, animals, and other parts of the natural environment, like clouds and rocks.”
Leslie Owen Williams – University of Wisconsin List of 10 Descriptors
Why take kids outside?Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
Why take kids outside?Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.”
- Albert Einstein
State Education and Environmental Roundtable 150 schools in 16 states with environmental basedGains in science, language arts, social studies and math
Hotchkiss Elementary School Dallas, TXPassing rates of 4th graders in environment based program vs traditional class = 13% higher
Sunnyside Environmental K-8 Portland, ORConsistently scores higher than state average in reading, math, writing, science
My class outperforms district and state averages
Why take kids outside?Nature as Therapy
Obesity Prevention
Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence
Future Stewards
Improved Performance on Standardized Tests
The Hook
What’s Preventing YOU?
What’s Preventing You?
Fear – safety, legal, behavior
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.
- Benjamin Franklin
Visit the Site First
Parent Volunteers /Background checks
Permission Slips/Medical Release Forms
First Aid Kit/Epi-Pen
“Worst” behaved are often the “Best” behaved
What’s Preventing You?
Fear
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
In school you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life you’re given a test and
then taught a lesson. - Tom Bodett
What’s tested is taught!
Since No Child Left Behind:46% Increase in Language Arts37% Increase in Math
The Solution? INTEGRATEINTEGRATEINTEGRATE
What’s Preventing You?
Fear
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature – Can you identify
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don’t need it.
- Bob Hope
Go Local - Walking Trips
Ask for Free/Reduced Entrance Fees
Field Trip Grants
Don’t Go it Alone
What’s Preventing You?
Fear – stranger danger, kids
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
“Come together, right now, over me.”
- John Lennon/Paul McCartney
What’s Preventing You?
Fear – stranger danger, kids
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
To get out of the box, you have to think outside of
the box!
What’s Preventing You?
Fear – stranger danger, kids
The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon
Cost
Investment of Time
Proximity to Nature – Can you identify
Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” - Mark Twain
Arm Yourself With Statistics
Bring Them Along
Enlist Parent Support
Focus on What you Can Do, Not What You Can’t
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