Term
Summer 2020
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Julie Scullen
Content Expert
Ryan Barth
Abstract
Research has shown that spending time learning and exploring outdoors can be a vital part of emotional and academic development of students. Connecting with the outdoors is also a foundational aspect in the development of environmental stewards. Many students aren’t given the opportunities to connect with the environment for a number of reasons including lack of access to outdoor spaces and/or lack of role models. This project resulted in the creation of seven lesson plans with the goals to foster joy, enrich relationships, and encourage growth in the outdoors. The lessons target primarily middle school students, but can be adapted for older or younger students. They are also written for new outdoor educators and contain information to help develop outdoor teaching skills. These lesson plans were written specifically for the Baker Outdoor Learning Center, but could be used at several other environmental learning centers with slight modifications. The researched strategies for reaching these goals included culturally responsive teaching, hands on/experiential learning, student centered environments, curiosity and inquiry based instruction, immersion in nature, using journals as tools, focusing on relationships, and employing strategic praise.
Keywords
Curriculum, Environmental Studies, Science, Outdoor Teaching
Recommended Citation
Chapman, Emma, "Fostering Joy, Enriching Relationships, and Encouraging Growth Through Outdoor Education Curriculum" (2020). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 554.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/554
Type
text
Publisher
Hamline University
Format
application/pdf
Source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations at Hamline University
Comments
Research has shown that spending time learning and exploring outdoors can be a vital part of emotional and academic development of students. Connecting with the outdoors is also a foundational aspect in the development of environmental stewards. Many students aren’t given the opportunities to connect with the environment for a number of reasons including lack of access to outdoor spaces and/or lack of role models. This project resulted in the creation of seven lesson plans with the goals to foster joy, enrich relationships, and encourage growth in the outdoors. The lessons target primarily middle school students, but can be adapted for older or younger students. They are also written for new outdoor educators and contain information to help develop outdoor teaching skills. These lesson plans were written specifically for the Baker Outdoor Learning Center, but could be used at several other environmental learning centers with slight modifications. The researched strategies for reaching these goals included culturally responsive teaching, hands on/experiential learning, student centered environments, curiosity and inquiry based instruction, immersion in nature, using journals as tools, focusing on relationships, and employing strategic praise.