What: Specials classes including art, music and PE could incorporate opportunities to take children outside. In this case, the specials teacher would do the planning and inform the classroom teachers if students are to bring specific clothing items or materials.
Why: Providing opportunities to get children outside during specials is an easy way to incorporate additional outdoor minutes into children’s school experiences and can provide an exciting way to engage students in specials.
How: Specials teachers would need to consider scheduling, weather and curriculum and choose opportunities that would make sense to take children outside. This would involve flexible thinking and planning as it might mean one 3rd grade class gets to do an activity outside but another 3rd grade class doesn’t if the weather changes during a week.
One option is doing an activity that could be completed inside or outside which would be easy for planning. In PE, you could teach or play a game that could happen indoors or outside such as tag, a simple relay race, a sports game like soccer or basketball, etc. In art, you could work on sketching small objects either natural objects such as bark, stones, leaves while outside or indoor objects while indoors, or nature objects could be collected and brought into the classroom in the case of inclement weather. In music, a teacher could teach the lesson outside if it doesn’t involve a lot of large instruments–small instruments could be carried outside by children, singing (copy song sheets rather than project on a screen) and making simple rhythms with bodies could all easily be done outside.
Another option would be to create a lesson that utilizes the outdoors (and nature when applicable). In PE, a simple exercises obstacle course could be created using the playground (5 mountain climbers holding onto base of slide, 3 pull-ups on the monkey bars, etc.). Children could complete an outdoor running course around the school grounds. Music teachers could teach a lesson on vibration and sound using objects on the playground–exploring what tones are created when certain places are struck with a drumstick. Students could create a playground symphony by creating and playing rhythms on the equipment. Art classes could make rubbings of natural materials and then use their rubbings to create collages. Students could collect nature objects and incorporate them into artistic pieces.
When: During existing specials times
Who: Specials teachers would be in charge of planning but would need to communicate with classroom teachers if students are to be dropped of at a different location (such as playground rather than classroom) or if students need to wear specific clothing (coats, etc.).
Materials: Many lessons would require the same materials as if the lesson were done indoors. Students would need to be involved with carrying materials outside. For example, carrying sketchbooks and pencils or clipboards and crayons. A set of reusable canvas bags could be part of an art room so that students could grab them easily to collect outdoor objects. Small musical instruments can be carried outside for music lessons. PE teachers can have children bring necessary sports equipment outside.
Barriers addressed: Curriculum Connections; Control over Curriculum; Out of Routine; Scheduling; Services; Time Pressure; Time/Space in Standards