What: Scheduling time outdoors can seem daunting as school days can feel overwhelmingly busy. A great place to start is to schedule time outdoors at the same time each week, as you would schedule another subject like art or read-aloud. If you have a set-time in your schedule, you will be more likely to stick to it and take kids outside. Another way to think about scheduling to ensure all kids get opportunities to be outside is to schedule each grade to go outside during a certain day. For example, First grade could have Mondays, Second could have Tuesdays, etc. This way, the expectation school-wide is that each class gets outside once a week. If there are multiple sections of each grade, classes could be scheduled for a time slot morning, midday or afternoon or could be responsible for choosing a time on their assigned day. Administration can create a school-wide schedule as a first step in making outdoor time a priority for the school, or teachers can include outdoor time in their weekly planning.
How:
Individual Teachers
When planning your weekly schedule, consider a time when you can take students outside every single week. Perhaps Friday afternoons, or Monday mornings? If you intentionally put outdoor time in your schedule it is more likely to happen. Once the time is scheduled, you can consider if you want to use the time for nature exploration, science lessons, free time, academic work time, etc. You could do something different each week depending on what you feel your student’s need or what needs to get done. It is important that the chosen time is communicated with support teaching staff so that students are not pulled out for services during outdoor time.
School-Wide Scheduling
Administrative teams can create an outdoor schedule for the school. One option is to assign each grade a day and let each class determine the time they will go outside. Another option is to assign each class a time each week, in the same way art or music classes are scheduled. Recess, lunch and special times must be considered. Having a set-time at the beginning of the year will allow teachers and support teachers to coordinate when services will be provided to students and make sure that no child is being pulled out during the classes’ outdoor time.
When: A set-time each week either determined by individual teacher or by school administrator.
Who: Individual teachers can decide a time to take students outside and can coordinate with support teachers so all students can participate in this set outdoor time. Administration can take the lead in creating a school-wide schedule to ensure every student gets outside at least once a week (besides recess).
Materials: Depends on what activity or lesson a teacher decides to do each week.
Why: Setting-up a set schedule either in the classroom or as a school makes planning easier, ensures that students get outside at least once a week (besides recess) and gives outdoor time priority and value just as other subjects. Taking these steps will guarantee students have increased access to time outdoors.
Consider: Make this outdoor time meaningful. Talk with kids about the value and benefit of going outside. Have them give input on how the time could be used. Use this time to help make outdoor spaces at your school even better (do some designing, writing to admin, weeding, planting, etc).
Barriers addressed: Clothing; Concerns About Dirt; Fairness Across Students/Classes; Accessibility Considerations; Nature Concerns; Out of Routine; Policies; Remembering to Include Nature; Scheduling; Services; Sharing Spaces; Student/Staff Ratios; Treating Time Outside as a Reward