Sept 21 Exit Slip Further Reflections on Learning Outdoors

I think a lot of experiences can be gleaned from working outside. Young minds need to take a break once in a while and refresh their brains. They are probably sitting for hours for other classes too, so giving them a breather is helpful. One teacher might say "Other teachers can take them out, but I am keeping them in here so they can learn". This wouldn't be helpful since any other teacher can say the same thing. So if I take the initiative and lead outdoor activities, it will alleviate some burdens for the students and myself, since we are all able to connect with nature. Breathing in fresh air is a good opportunity for us to be rejuvenated but also to be thankful that our environment is clean. Even though I may not have the opportunity to do crafts all the time, I can still just bring a board outside and teach and lead students in open-area activities in order to shake loose some tight muscles. In terms of working with crafts, I may connect the twisting of the rope making and connect it with angles in math, or maybe a teensy bit of knot theory. It is also a way to get the students to work out the dexterity of their hands, as they mostly just scroll through their phones, hold starbucks/bubble tea drinks, or sports balls. I believe this is a retrieval of a lost art, to backsource and dig up a hidden treasure chest to be implemented in a time as crucial as now, when digital technologies dominate our daily lives.