As you enthusiastically teach your carefully planned lesson on multiplying fractions, you scan the room and notice squirmy kids gazing out the window. Some are obviously ignoring your lesson and some are politely trying to hide the fact that they are more interested in what’s going on outdoors than what’s happening on the Smartboard. The kids have a case of spring fever and well, so do you! Take the signal from the kids and take the learning outside!
Here are 5 outside activities with suggestions that fit into different areas of the curriculum. Use the suggestions or adapt to fit your own curriculum needs. The activities are low prep and use materials commonly found in your classroom or school. (Our Phys. Ed. teacher is quite used to me borrowing balls, hoops, jump ropes, and the such!) Remember to let the office know that you will be outside in case they need to reach you!
Let’s play!
Playground Ball Games
Materials Needed:
Playground Balls or Soccer Balls (half the number of students in your class)
For spelling practice, a Spelling List
For this game, students review curriculum content by throwing, bouncing, or kicking a ball back and forth with a partner. This game works well with counting by multiples to reinforce multiplication facts. For example, the first student says, "2" and passes the ball to his/her partner. The other student says "4" and passes the ball back and so on. Students can start with 2’s and work their way up to the 12’s. This game can also be used to practice spelling words. Have students bring out a spelling list on a clipboard. One student starts by calling out a word. Students can bounce the ball back and forth while saying each letter in the word.
Measuring Practice
Materials Needed:
Tape Measures or Meter Sticks
Recording Sheet and Pencil
Students work individually or with a partner to measure various items in a defined area. Decide on items to measure as a class. You can also allow some choices. Give students boundaries for your playground area as you see fit. Distribute tape measures or meter sticks and head outside! Students measure items and record their answers and units. This FREE recording sheet is ready for you to download, print, and distribute.
Click HERE!
Sidewalk Chalk Ideas
Materials Needed:
Sidewalk Chalk
Curriculum Content
I’ve used sidewalk chalk in 3 different ways. The first is for writing out multiplication facts. The next way is to practice spelling words. The third way is to study for an upcoming quiz or test. To study, students would partner up with study guides in hand. Students would take turns asking each other questions from the study guide. The other partner would write the answer with sidewalk chalk. The pair would then reverse roles.
Hand Clap Poems
Materials Needed:
Notebook and Pencil
Move over Miss Mary Mac! Before going outside, have students share any hand clap poems that they may already know. Challenge them to partner up and create their own handclap rhyme. Students write down their poem and routine in their notebooks. Allow students to share their hand clap rhymes with the rest of the class. Alternately, you could have the kiddos create jump rope rhymes!
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Materials Needed:
Recording Sheet and Pencil
Give students time to get out and observe spring! A simple FREE checklist for a quick scavenger hunt can be found HERE!
If desired, use the checklist as a starter for a writing assignment or for creating math word problems.
Spring is such a fun time for learning!
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