Abstract:Chapter 13 focused on outdoor activities and how these could be integrated into middle school curricula. The chapter discussed both day and overnight activities, including hiking, camping, ropes courses, and reenactments. It also discussed how many subjects can be taught in an outdoor setting, from sketching forests (art) to studying ponds (science) and measuring shadows on trees (math). However, as Wormeli points out it is extremely important to have the support of both parents and administration; this can in fact be the most difficult part in creating and implementing such activities.
Reflections:
Integrating both physical and outdoor learning experiences into curricula can be greatly influential on students. Not only does it allow for them to build trust and teamwork, it also helps develops these same relationships for teachers as well. Outdoor excursions are also more engaging and motivating by nature (no pun intended), thus increasing their value as effective educational strategies. It also gives students a break from the materialism and technology that defines our society.
These would be perfect for the type of units we are building because of the integration across discipline levels. Many students do not have the opportunity to participate in such events, and creating one in your school district could be extremely beneficial to both faculty and students. Service learning could also be implemented so that better appreciation and collaboration could be made with the community.
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13 comments:
I think that the outdoor index seems interesting. I think that this could be a good resource for teachers to use. It also can show students how people in England spend their time outside compared to them. This could also present an opportunity for a class to maybe take a trip to England and actually experience some of these activities. The second link is cool because it has team building activities. Team building games are always good especially in middle school. I think these books could also be a good resource for teachers to find their own building activities.
I really liked that the first link was from England. It's nice to get a different perspective. It seems like there's a lot of information and many links on the site so it would definitely be worthwhile to go back and explore. I liked the games that were found on the second link. They would be really fun and effective team building activities. I'll definitely use that link when I want to find some good activities for my classroom.
This was an exciting chapter for me and I wrote about that in my reflection. I am a strong advocate for using the outdoors to build learning. I liked your first link, there was a great deal of information on this site, and a variety of different tasks. i think that the use of the outdoors within the curriculum.
What I really liked was the ideas behind the golfing activity. Here, not only were students doing team building, but they are designing it too. This is definitely high-order thinking. These all seem like activities that we could work in to our advisory programs.
Both links are two of the best links thus far for the books because a lot of student, and teachers for that matter, really enjoy outdoor activities. The team building is especially important because building teams and bonds at the middle school level is crucial.
I enjoyed both of the articles. The first one had a lot of information and resources that I plan on going back to, especially the information regarding overnight activities. I liked both the activities that the second article had. I love do anything with movement and being outside, so really enjoyed these articles.
I love the teamwork link. I think it is very important for students to work together in a classroom to create an environment where students feel safe to try out new things and make mistakes. These seem like great activities to use to help build teamwork in your classroom. The other link is cool also. There is so much information and so many links to a variety of resources, it's awesome.
I like the team building activities because you can do them at any age and you don't have to wait until your class/grade goes on a trip. In our society these days we are too focused on me, myself, and I, and not about the group as a whole. I think its important we teach about teaming at a young age and throughout school.
Great job on all the links. I like the games one even though it is geared more towards a younger audience. It could still be used in a middle grades classroom as well. The outdoor link was great too because it had a bunch of resources in it. Awesome!
I liked the first link because like I had sad in my reflection was that I think having students up and about help them learn better than just being in their classroom. They learn more about themselves and moral values along with educational knowledge. I love the second link, and the team building activities. When I become a teacher I plan on starting my scholastic year off with team building activities and I'm really interested in the books that were up on the second link.
The outdoor website was great because it had so many other links. Sometimes it's hard to come up with different outdoor activities because kids have done them before in previous classes.
The team building ideas that were on the second link would be perfect for middle school. Anything that gets students to work together but is still fun for them is great. Good links!
I liked both of the links as the information was useful and informative. I also found a link to ans Outdoor educational journal, cool.
I really liked your second link about teamwork games. Not only would those two books be helpful in a classroom, but I work at a day camp and the children often fight. I think the activities in these books would be great to build stronger bonds and teamwork between the children. Great links. Bravo ;-)
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