We all know that bringing a little bit of nature into your daily routine can improve your well-being. Whether you have a small apartment balcony or a large backyard, you can use the outdoors to learn more about the world around you. But did you know that integrating nature in the classroom is also beneficial for both kids and teachers? Here are just some of the many benefits of learning in nature.
The Montessori Philosophy is about whole child education, supporting their cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. Nature offers numerous ways to aid this goal and is one of the founding principles of Montessori academics.
Emotional Stability
Studies prove kids who go outside and play are happier, less anxious, and better able to deal with stress than their indoor counterparts. Being able to freely move around and participate in outdoor activities with peers also enables children to be more focused indoors!
Develop a Love of Learning
When nature is integrated into the classroom, children are able to learn in a way that’s relevant to their lives and interests. As students explore their surroundings, they are interested and captivated by their environment, enabling them to grasp subjects better.
Hands-on activities allow children opportunities for scientific discovery. For example, what better way to learn about photosynthesis than having them plant seeds or root vegetables and experience the plant’s life cycle?
Attention to Detail
One of the most important benefits of integrating nature into the classroom is that it helps students pay attention to detail. When students are engaged in nature, they tend to focus more deeply on what they’re doing and learn better because of it. Additionally, students who can focus well are more likely to succeed in school—teachers can expect their lessons on reading comprehension or math skills to be much more beneficial for their students with this natural learning environment than without it!
When children are active, their energy tends to increase, and they are more likely to pay attention. This means they’re less likely to fidget in the classroom and take part in learning on their terms.
Stress Reduction
Many people in our society are suffering from stress. Stress is a huge problem for children and adults, which can stem from an early age. Fortunately, nature has been proven to help reduce stress and improve overall health. We’ll look at some ways nature can reduce stress and encourage exploration:
- A forest walk is a simple way for students to learn. If they’re learning about forests, a walk through the local park or forest preserve before returning to class for an activity involving trees or animals found there will help them better relate to the material.
- Â Another way Montessori education incorporates nature into lesson plans is by having students observe leaves as they fall around them during different seasons. This will allow them to experience the beauty of their surroundings while learning about lifecycles!
Communal Sense of Belonging and Engagement
One of the most important aspects of outdoor learning is allowing students to interact with their peers in a real environment outside of the classroom. When students are allowed to interact with each other physically, they gain a better understanding of their classmates’ viewpoints and develop greater empathy. This leaves them better equipped to understand how everyone in the classroom can learn from each other’s experiences.
Students also talk more freely in an outdoor setting because they are encouraged to do so. There is often more discussion among students about what they’re learning and why it matters, resulting in higher levels of engagement for every student involved!
Cypress Creek Montessori
There are infinite advantages to integrating nature in the classroom; all children can benefit from it. Ensure your child is set up for success by considering Montessori education at Cypress Creek Frisco Montessori.
Cypress Creek Frisco Montessori embraces the outdoors as part of our whole-child approach to early development. Our beautiful outdoor space complements our spacious classrooms and enables all students to develop skills they will carry with them throughout life. Take a tour of our facility today!