While we all remain safely inside our homes, you may have noticed some significant and beautiful changes happening outdoors. This year, the grass seems greener, the flowering trees fuller, the skies bluer, and the sun brighter. It could be that we have a greater appreciation for these springtime changes given current circumstances, or it could be, as some hypothesize, due to a decrease in pollution as people stay home. Whatever the reason, the outdoors is more welcoming than ever this spring.

We’ve all heard that fresh air is good for us, that the vitamin D that we get from exposure to the sun is important, and that both can boost our immunity in general. Most definitely being outdoors on a sunny spring day can lift our spirits. So, as we continue with our physical distancing and alternative learning, why not integrate learning outdoors into a daily routine? Parents can move some of their children’s school activities to the deck, the driveway, or the backyard. Montessori learning is experiential, and incorporating learning with time spent outside is another great way to promote meaningful, sensorial, and fun at-home learning endeavors.

Without too much effort, you might create your own ‘outdoor classroom’ at home. A blanket spread out on the grass and a book (or audiobook) makes for a lovely afternoon reading experience. Bring along a few furry (stuffed animal) friends for a read-aloud picnic and book club party! Sidewalk chalk on the driveway or front walkway might be a fun way to share uplifting messages to passersby while practicing writing at the same time. Older children might do some journal writing while sitting on the front step.

You might find that many outdoor learning opportunities naturally lend themselves to cross-curricular lessons. Combine science with language by having children dictate or write descriptions of their observations of birds, trees, flowers, or backyard visitors. Invoke an art lesson, as well, by providing your child with a sketchbook and some colored pencils or watercolors to then illustrate some of those same observations.

Certain activities are best suited for outside, such as science experiments, especially if they involve water or potentially messy materials, as cleanup is much easier! Go outside and record the daily temperature, or watch which way shadows are cast at different times throughout the day. Show your child which direction is north and see if he or she can estimate the time by where the shadows fall.

You might generate new interest in math lessons involving counting, addition, subtraction, or other functions by having your child use natural objects such as leaves, rocks, or sticks. Tally how many times a squirrel passes by or how many cars drive past the house. Simply being outside invokes the use of senses, so opportunities for Sensorial lessons abound. Sort items by categories such as rough/smooth or heavy/light, or by color or shape or size. Listen to the surrounding sounds and identify or chart them. How many are made by living things (birds, people) vs. non-living things (cars, doors slamming), and then discuss how would you categorize the sound of the wind?

Also remember to offer time for simple, unstructured free-play outside. With an adult nearby but not involved, children can create entire worlds for themselves using their imaginations and their surroundings. Many ‘old fashioned’ games, as well as outdoor lessons, require very few materials or supplies. By allowing your child to take in the sights, sounds, scents, and textures in nature, you’re sure to see learning unfold naturally.