6 Tips for Bringing Green into the Classroom

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Originally appears in the Summer 2019 issue.

MANY OF TODAY’S children are disconnected from the natural world. This increasingly alarming trend can have a dramatic impact on a child’s well-being and development, but even worse, it can result in apathy and inaction regarding our modern environmental crises, notably climate change, which is a direct threat to human civilization. Under this atmosphere of concern, educators feel an added responsibility to help make a difference by educating today’s youths, but video games, texting, and social media platforms, along with busy schedules and a protective parental presence, are all factors that can hinder children’s ability to go outside and explore their natural environment.

To make important headway, schools and educators need to focus on fostering a deeper relationship between children and the Earth by encouraging them to reconnect with its beauty and wonderment. The natural world is filled with potential discoveries that can enhances a child’s learning. It can also be integrated into a broad range of classroom subjects. From mathematics to languages, geography, and the arts, children of all ages can benefit from the lessons provided by their natural environment. Below are six tips for enhancing outdoor nature learning for primary and intermediate students.