What: Pre-packed, ready to grab outdoor “kits” are a great resource to make heading outside easier and take less time. Outdoor kits can be a bin with a lid, a crate or a canvas bag that has all basic materials that might be useful such as sharpened pencils, first aid kit, magnifying glasses, baggies, wipes and the like. Having other items such as clipboards, water bottles and sun hats easily accessible to grab on the way out the door will also make for easier transitions to the outdoors.
How: Taking time at the beginning of the year to create an outdoor kit is well worth the time. Think about what students will need on most outings outside and place those things inside a bin or bag. Leave the bag near the door and just grab it on the way out. Students can assist in replenishing the bag upon return by sharpening pencils or replacing consumable items that were used. The following is a list of items that could go in the outdoor kits along with a list of items that should be easily accessible to grab on the way out the door.
Item Ideas for Outdoor Kits:
- Sharpened pencils (in a baggie, in a pencil tin, or wrapped in a rubber band)
- Set of small magnifying glasses (FOSS kits have great ones, they also sell them at Oriental Trading)
- ZipLoc Baggies (throw in a box of gallon or quart baggies for impromptu collecting)
- Baggie full of colored pencils for observation
- Blank paper (can be kept in a sturdy folder or in several sturdy plastic sleeves for protection)
- First Aid kit with basics like Band-Aids and alcohol swabs for minor injuries
- Student-specific items like Epi pens
- Baby wipes or hand sanitizer
Items that should be easily accessible:
- Class set of clipboards
- Student water bottles
- Camera (or bring your cell phone to take photos)
- Sun hats (have students bring a sun hat to leave at school, look for cheap sales at the end of summer or at the dollar store to buy a stash for the class)
- Crayons for rubbings
- Glue for nature collages
- Reusable canvas bags (these are great for carrying items like clipboards, water bottles, lunches or any items not in the outdoor kit already)
When: Prepare outdoor kits at the beginning of the year. Grab kits on the way outside (if materials are needed for the lesson/activity). Replenish kits upon returning indoors so they are ready for the next trip outdoors.
Who: Teachers can prepare the kits for the classrooms based on what they predict they might need. Administration can support kit development by providing extra sets of magnifying glasses, canvas bags, and other items requested by teachers. Students can be involved with deciding what should go in the kits as well as help with replenishing and maintaining kits. Maintaining classroom outdoor kits can be added to the classroom jobs list.
Materials: Container (canvas bag, plastic bin or crate), pencils, magnifying glasses, colored pencils, baggies, first aid kits, wipes, etc. (see above list)
Why: Already prepped outdoor kits make bringing materials outside easy for teachers and students. This saves transition time and makes last minute or frequent outdoor trips even easier. Student involvement and responsibility for the kits increases investment in spending time outdoors.
Consider: If having doubles/extras of certain materials to stash in outdoor kits is an issue, develop a routine for quickly gathering needed materials for trips outdoors. Students can take on different roles and responsibilities. One can gather pencils, another baggies, another glues; whatever might be needed. The more trips outside, the quicker and easier all of these transitions become.
Barriers addressed: Curriculum Connections; Usefulness of nearby nature; Educator Content Knowledge; Pedagogical Content Knowledge