(Bringing the Indoors Outdoors, Safety, Classroom Management, Teaching Outdoors, Micro Lessons)
Creating a successful outdoor learning space starts with building confidence, consistency, and community—both for teachers and students. This section focuses on the key areas that will help you feel comfortable teaching outdoors.
Key Focus Areas:
Safety in the Outdoors – Preparing for a safe and structured learning environment.
Repetition and Practice – Building routines to make outdoor learning a natural part of the day.
Student Community Agreements – Co-creating norms to encourage responsibility and respect.
Building Relationships – Strengthening support from students, teachers, and administrators.
Student Leadership – Encouraging ownership and active participation.
Safety in the Outdoors
When discussing outdoor learning, safety is often the first concern. Based on TOTAL NM’s research in seeking community input along with the input from teachers from the teachers in the Outdoor Education Learning Program (OELP), here are some strategies to maintain a safe outdoor environment:
-Involve Parents and Guardians – Invite volunteers, and create a wish list for safety gear.
-Set Expectations First – Discuss positive and negative behaviors before going outside. Address concerns expressed by students ahead of time.
-Know Your Space – Familiarize yourself with the area beforehand. Take note of already established boundaries like fencing or other natural walls within the schoolyard and other areas that may provide natural shade like trees.
-Prepare Students – Establish rules, check for proper attire, and clarify expectations.
-Develop Signals – Use whistle cues or other signals for quick communication.
-Stay Calm and Focused – Clear, confident leadership helps students feel secure.
-Give Short, Specific Instructions – Keep directions simple and direct.
-Engage School Security (if available) – Consider involving them in planning or supervision.
Repetition and Practice
Consistency is key! Repeating routines helps students feel comfortable and confident in outdoor learning settings.
-Build on Family and Cultural Norms – Connect outdoor learning to familiar routines (IE-going out at the same time of day, cooking a favorite meal outdoors, playing a family game)l
-Reflect Often – Talk about what worked, and what didn’t, and adjust accordingly.
-Reinforce Rules & Routines – Repeat safety and behavior expectations regularly.
-Set Daily Goals – Keep students engaged with a clear focus each day or week.
-Start Small – Combine indoor and outdoor activities at first. 5 minutes outdoors is better than 0 minutes.
-Normalize Outdoor Learning – Let students know this is a regular part of their education.
-Create Consistent Norms – Establish guidelines that apply both indoors and outdoors.
Student Community Agreements
Involving students in creating expectations fosters ownership and accountability.
-Co-Create Agreements – Develop rules with students, not just for them.
-Stay Consistent – Reinforce agreements regularly.
-Focus on Key Values – Respect nature, each other, and safety while staying engaged and responsible.
Building Relationships with Students, Teachers, and Administrators
Outdoor learning is most successful when everyone—students, teachers, and school leaders—are on board.
-Keep Open Communication – Regularly check in with administrators and share your plans.
-Invite Administrators to Join – Their participation builds advocacy and long-term support.
-Prioritize Student Well-being – Use outdoor time to connect with students personally.
-Encourage Shared Leadership – Make students active participants in decision-making.
-Support Risk-Taking – Administrators should encourage teachers to experiment and adapt.
-Celebrate Successes – Positive reinforcement helps maintain enthusiasm and engagement.
Student Leadership
Empowering students to take the lead fosters confidence, responsibility, and engagement.
-Offer Choices – Let students pick seating areas or focus points for learning.
-Rotate Leadership Roles – Assign small group leaders or rotate responsibilities.
-Use a Buddy System – Pair students to support each other.
-Establish Line & Tail Leaders – Helps with safety and organization.
–Encourage Peer Mentorship – Older or more experienced students can model behavior for others.
Getting Outside: Teacher & Student Reflections
Starting outdoor learning takes patience and consistency, but the benefits outweigh the challenges. Here’s what teachers and students have shared:
“What were the hardest parts about going outside?”
“Time, we never have enough time.”
“The weather can be unpredictable.”
“Managing transitions was tricky at first.”
“We had to plan bathroom breaks ahead of time.”
“Large groups were harder to manage.”
“Some students resisted at first because they weren’t used to outdoor learning.”
“What were the best parts about going outdoors?”
“Students loved making real-world connections!”
“We’re excited to build something for future students.”
“Motivation to learn increased!”
“The change in scenery kept students engaged.”
“Having admin support made it easy to implement.”
“Students loved taking on leadership roles.”
“They enjoyed having more space to call their own.”
TOTAL NM is committed to addressing challenges and finding solutions to make outdoor learning a success. The key? Start small, stay consistent, and trust the process.
The more you go outdoors, the easier it becomes!
Need help getting started? TOTAL NM offers workshops and training. Contact us at info@totalnm.org for support!
Image of students learning outdoors with Special Education Teacher, Celina Cordova from the Outdoor Educator Leadership Program.
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