Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to bring Teaching Outdoors

Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors answers a call in the educational community for practical, easy-to-implement activities that bring core curriculum out of the classroom and into the outdoors.

Outdoor learning has risen in popularity in recent years, and it has tremendous benefits. Being outside is healthier, helps children form a strong connection to the natural world, supports a variety of learning styles, increases engagement and motivation, and improves mental health. This book gives teachers practical activities they can immediately implement and helps educators overcome common barriers to outdoor instruction. These activities can be done in common outdoor spaces accessible to teachers in all school settings, and they are adaptable to their current curriculum—not an extra thing to try to fit into their day.

• Get ideas for fun outdoor activities that cover core subject matter already being taught
• Take learning outside, taking advantage of commonly accessible areas, no matter the educational setting
• Help students develop a healthy appreciation of the outdoors and support hands-on learning styles
• Support students’ physical and mental health without sacrificing learning time

This book is a much-needed resource for elementary and special education teachers, as well as those in alternative schools, forest schools, and homeschooling parents.

“In our work to move more students, classes, and schools outdoors – where we know myriad, invaluable benefits await – Rachel Tidd’s Wild Learning provides educators with the how-to guide on nature-based learning and outdoor teaching they have been yearning for. Readers will discover the insight, lessons, and concrete examples for the “what”, “where”, “when”, “how”, and “why: of teaching with nature in integrated ways!” – Liza Lowe, Affiliate Faculty, Antioch University New England and Director, Inside-Outside

Rachel Tidd is a leading proponent of integrating the outdoors and natural materials with core academics. She became interested in teaching and learning outside after watching her two children thrive in an outdoor forest preschool. Rachel has written and presented at conferences, on podcasts, and in magazines.

240 pages