Written by Discovery Program Project Coordinator Jessica Stillman.
Teachers, you can help your students be more engaged and enthusiastic in all areas of their learning by taking them outside.
Studies show that students who experience nature as part of the educational process score higher on tests in reading, writing, and math and have demonstrated better listening skills.
Not that you need any more reasons to get outside, but here are 4 more reasons to take your students learning outside for Take Me Outside Day!
- Spending time in nature is good for you
- Nature is a wonderful teacher – look, listen, and observe
- Nature is a classroom that knows no boundaries – you can teach any subject outside
- Weather is part of the adventure – don’t let it rain on your parade!
What is Take Me Outside Day (TMO)?
Back for its 14th year, Take Me Outside Day aids in raising awareness and advocating for outdoor learning by helping educators and learners feel inspired to head outside and learn beyond the four walls of a classroom.
Students from Stittsville to Terrace Bay, Temagami to Whitney, Parry Sound to Brighton, and everywhere in between will be taking their learning outside with Discovery staff.
On Wednesday, October 23, Ontario Parks Discovery staff will be encouraging outdoor exploration, discovery, and learning in parks, schoolyards, and local greenspaces.
Visit a provincial park near you to take your learning outside or book a Discovery program this fall – inquire about booking a program with us now.
Here are some examples of ways Discovery is taking you outside for Take me Outside Day:
Fall nature walk at Frontenac Provincial Park
Students will be hitting the trails at Frontenac with Discovery staff from Charleston Lake Provincial Park on Take Me Outside Day.
Getting outside is the best way to experience and explore the seasonal changes happening in your neighborhood.
Nature Journaling with Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Discovery staff are excited to help students practice collecting and organizing their observations, questions, connections, and explanations through nature journaling.
Using words, pictures, and numbers, students participating in this program will gain a deeper attention and make meaningful connections to nature.
Nature journaling is a great way to center oneself and ease into the present moment.
It encourages you to be fully present, to engage your senses, and to notice things that may otherwise go unnoticed.
What a great way to learn from nature on TMO Day!
Exploring biodiversity at Awenda Provincial Park
Grade 5/6 students will visit Awenda for Take Me Outside Day on October 23.
The students will explore the park’s biodiversity, learning about the rich variety of plants and animals that call Awenda home.
Through hands-on activities, they will discover how ecosystems are connected and the importance of protecting our natural world.
Nature observation with Discovery staff in a schoolyard
Attention is one of the most generous gifts we can give.
During this program, students will pause to observe, question, and connect with the natural world in their schoolyard.
They will use the “”I notice, I wonder, it reminds me of”” observation routine to explore this familiar area in a new way.
By recording and celebrating their observations in a nature journal, students will deepen their connection with the natural world in their community.
Get outside all year long!
Take Me Outside Day might only be one day a year, but every day in nature is a learning adventure!
Get your students outside or bring nature into your classroom with one of our many school programs. Visit our Discovery school program webpage to connect with Discovery staff near you and book a program.
Discovery programs bring learning alive!
Whether it is online with a virtual program or in person on the Giant Floor Map, your students are sure to get excited about the outdoors, develop a deeper connection with nature, and explore their place in the world.
So, are you IN to get OUTside this October 23 and the rest of the school year?
Take Me Outside is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to raising awareness and facilitating action on nature connection and outdoor learning in schools across Turtle Island / North America.
