Free Inquiry Post #1
Hello!
Welcome to my free inquiry project! I am currently a fourth-year student in the UVIC East Kootenay Education Program. Last year, during my six-week Kindergarten practicum, I did not incorporate as much outdoor learning as I would have liked. Being outdoors is something that I enjoy and value in my daily life. As a result, I am creating an inquiry project focused on outdoor learning opportunities in mathematics education for students in Grades K-9. I will conduct research and develop a collection of outdoor learning activities across a variety of subjects aligned with the BC Curriculum learning standards.
Why is Outdoor Education Important?
Young children are moving indoors at an important time of growth and development when they would benefit from being outdoors. Research suggests that outdoor learning is important for student wellbeing, development and overall quality of life. The wellbeing of young individuals is shaped by their social connections and the environments in which they learn and grow, both of which are critical to their overall health, happiness and development. When students learn outdoors, they have opportunities to explore, discover and solve problems together, helping them develop important social skills and work collaboratively toward a common goal. Furthermore, outdoor environments support children’s well-being by:
- Reducing stress.
- Improving physical health.
- Boosting self-esteem and resilience.
- Fostering social connectedness.
- Increasing student motivation.
- Increasing social and teamwork skills.
Photo by Hannah Grapp found on Pexels.
Exploring Outdoor Education: My Inquiry Approach
For this inquiry project, I will explore outdoor education through the lens of mathematics instruction for students in Grades K-9. I will review research on the benefits of outdoor learning and investigate creative, hands-on math activities that can be taught outside while supporting BC Curriculum outcomes. I chose to focus on mathematics because it is a core subject that is taught daily and often takes up a significant portion of the school day. By moving some math instruction outdoors, educators can create engaging, meaningful learning experiences while helping students connect mathematical concepts to the world around them. This inquiry project will serve as a practical resource that I can use in my future teaching career and that other educators can use to incorporate outdoor learning into mathematics instruction.
My first inquiry post will focus on math outdoor education opportunities for Grades K-3. Inquiry post #3 will focus on Grades 4-7 and inquiry post #5, will focus on Grades 8-9. I will also try some of these activities and reflect on my own current and past experiences!
Video from the Department of Conservation