By Shifa Saudagar

Vanita Vishram Junior School, Mumbai celebrated India’s first ever Outdoor Classroom Day on October 12, 2017. It was a completely new experience for teachers as well as students at our school as this was the first time we taught our kids using things present in our surroundings and through nature. Our teachers came up with various unique concepts to teach the students. As we learnt about outdoor teaching and learning, we started to teach our students in open spaces such as the school playground and garden…and we celebrated Outdoor Classroom Day for an entire month leading up to October 12!

There is subtle magnetism in nature, which if we subconsciously yield to, it will direct us aright. Outdoor learning enables children to enjoy the natural environment as well as provides a platform for self-discovery, self-expression and enjoyment which is both stimulating and fulfilling. Children who gain knowledge and appreciation of nature are more likely to become adults with a greater sense of environmental awareness. When kids learn outside, they gain a sense of mastery and competency skills. In the outdoors, they try climbing, running; throwing and they feel they can do it, which in turn builds up their confidence level. Even when they are playing any game and they win the game, it helps in developing the winning spirit. It’s a best way to boost their self-esteem as well.

Our teachers picked up some topics relevant to the curriculum such as shapes, parts of plants, living and non-living things, concept of big & small numbers and more & less, addition and subtraction, measurement, sky gazing, alphabets and numbers, etc. The English alphabet and numbers were taught to our senior kindergarten students through a treasure hunt game in the garden and playground area of the school.

The celebrations on October 12 started with our tiny tots. The teacher selected the topic of ‘more & less’. She used flowers and leaves to teach the concept. The children went around the garden picking up fallen leaves and flowers. the teacher then helped them arrange the collected leaves and flowers in circles marked ‘more’ and ‘less’. Students from junior kindergarten were taught about ‘parts of the face’ using flowers, twigs, and fallen leaves with which the children created faces.

Students from standard I enjoyed a day of sky gazing while laying down on the garden grass observing the sky and the birds chirping. Students from standard II learnt the intricacies of addition  and subtraction again using fallen flowers and leaves. Standard III spent the day observing plants and trees in the school garden. They were taught about parts of a plant and the varied functions that each of these parts play. Standard IV took their math lessons in the outdoors learning about angles using their own bodies to form the different angles. We experienced that students enjoyed a lot through outdoor engagement and learning through nature…they grasped each of the concepts taught to them with a lot of ease.

Outdoor teaching reinforces children to build social relations. They learn how to work in groups, help each other and work in teams, they also develop the habit of observing things in nature and even utilizing those things in their learning. It helps the students to use their imagination and develop their problem solving skill. It also enhances mental and personal growth of the child. Outdoor learning explores and awakens a child’s potential.

This entire month through Outdoor Classroom Day, we all enjoyed and learned a lot. In this world of gadgets where all young or old are glued to different types of devices and are slowly turning into COUCH POTATOES, not enjoying the natural environment; this day helped us to come out of the classroom and explore the beautiful environment. Students were able to not only see nature through their own eyes but also feel it; in the presence of nature a wild delight running through their bodies generating positive energy. The most important things which our students were able to reap through these activities were teamwork, physical fitness, confidence, facing challenges, academic and intellectual benefits and above all appreciation for NATURE. It was an extremely wonderful and a great experience. We as teachers enjoyed a lot teaching our children through outdoor learning which is a new concept for us. It was fun for the children as well as teachers and we will continue teaching our kids outdoors.

Shifa Saudagar is a teacher at the Vanita Vishram Junior School, Mumbai.