Summer Learning in the Great Outdoors

Whether on a park bench, a blanket on the grass, at the beach, or at a picnic table, there are many places and ways to learn and do school outside. As you spend time outside with your children, observe the childlike wonder with which they approach learning. Seeing this can remind parents and adults of the importance of lifelong learning.

Spending time outdoors learning with your children is an excellent way to show and teach them about God’s creation. Colossians 1:16 says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible.” As part of science, you might like to go to outdoor botanical gardens or parks in your area to see the wonderful variety of flowers, trees, bushes and shrubs, and insects. On a clear night, go as a family to take a look at the stars in the sky. For art, one suggestion is to draw or paint what is seen and observed in nature. You can also read books together as a family in the outdoors.

Outdoor learning can encourage your child’s imagination. It doesn’t even have to be school outside.  Even something as simple and fun as playing on the playground may bring on the beginning of a story or an interest in researching and discovering more about a topic or subject. The Canadian Schoolhouse has several suggestions for activities to do outside, even in your own backyard.

Family Backyard Olympics
Backyard Summer Adventures
5 Senses of Summer Scavenger Hunt
Hey Mama: Family Summer Activities

If your family decides to hold a family Olympics, try a summer scavenger hunt or plan backyard adventures. These can be opportunities for your children to learn about organizing and planning activities for the family.

Sometimes, a change of location can make a difference in engaging with, learning about, and remembering facts and knowledge for various subjects. What subjects can be studied while outdoors? Below are a few suggestions for ways that subjects can be enjoyed outdoors.

Science: Learn about nature while at a park or botanical garden.

Art: Draw, paint, or photograph what is outdoors.

History: Read out loud while at a park or have your kids plan, practice, and put on an outdoor play.

Math and Languages: A change of location can do wonders for learning and remembering.

Geography: Spread out a map on a picnic table or on the grass and learn about other places.

For a history lesson outdoors, find and visit a historical park or village in your area to visit or plan to make this a daytrip for the family. Take a look at this article of The Homeschooler’s List of Historical Places in Canada for places that might be close by.

Another possibility is to go to an outdoor performance such as a play or concert and take a picnic along. If your family likes to go camping, some campgrounds have an outdoor amphitheatre with programs running during the summer, and also take a look at this article Explorative Learning Through Camping. If your family is planning on a trip, it can be a time for your children to learn about how and what to pack. The Canadian Schoolhouse has an article on Canadian Summer Must Visits.

Take the opportunity to enjoy the slower pace that summer offers. This might mean that your kids play in the sandbox in your yard or play in the sand at the beach and build sand castles. Perhaps, by building sand castles, it sparks an interest in architecture and how buildings are designed and built. Or maybe you and your children decide to watch the clouds go by and birds flying on a summer day. Seeing the variety of clouds in the sky might lead to a desire to learn about how the weather is forecasted or learn about birds that live in your area.

Enjoy learning outdoors with your children. It can provide a welcome change of setting and scenery. Learning outside is a great way to grow in appreciation of God’s creation as well as discover new subjects, topics, and areas of interest to explore. For more ideas on summer learning, check out Schooling Through Summer.

This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our themes page that has a new theme topic added every month!