At St. Anne Elementary School, Kindergarten students experienced learning in a fresh and exciting way through outdoor education. These young learners gained knowledge and life skills through hands-on activities in nature. Three times a week, the school’s little explorers ventured outdoors to engage with their environment in creative and meaningful ways.
Sit-Spot in Nature: Connecting with the Outdoors
One of the key elements of the outdoor learning program was the Sit-Spot, where students spent quiet time in nature. Sitting in their chosen spot, they reflected on their surroundings, which encouraged mindfulness and focus. This calming routine helped students share their thoughts more easily during group discussions and deepened their appreciation for the natural world.
Educators used sensory engagement questions such as “What do you hear?” and “What do you feel?” to guide reflection. Each Sit-Spot session evolved with the seasons, allowing students to notice changes and strengthen their connection with the environment.
Yoga Mindfulness: Flexibility, Balance, and Teamwork
Outdoor yoga became a favourite part of the Kindergarten program. During Tuesday morning sessions, students practiced poses that encouraged balance, flexibility, and mindfulness. Using “Kids Yoga” cards, they took turns choosing positions and supported one another as partners.
Practising yoga outdoors in the winter presented challenges, but students embraced them enthusiastically and determinedly. Posing on frozen ground required perseverance and teamwork, while the experience strengthened body and mind. As the weather warmed, students looked forward to continuing their yoga practice in lighter clothing and observing how movement felt in different seasons.
Music and Movement: Dancing and Drumming in Nature
Music played an important role in outdoor learning. St. Anne’s Kindergarten classes loved to dance, sing, and explore rhythms in the open air. Playing musical instruments outdoors gave students the freedom to move and express themselves creatively.
For some students who were sensitive to noise, the open setting offered a more comfortable environment to explore sound. By experimenting with drums and rhythmic patterns, these students gained confidence and improved their sensory processing skills. Teachers also introduced colourful ribbons and other materials that allowed students to connect music with movement, joy, and self-expression.
Visual Art: Unleashing Creativity in the Outdoors
The outdoor setting offered endless inspiration for art. Kindergarten students painted with snow, used spoons and cardboard to mix colours on the pavement, and even experimented with photography using real cameras. These creative experiences encouraged imagination, problem-solving, and appreciation for the beauty of the natural environment.
Outdoor Math: Learning with Nature’s Tools
At St. Anne, math lessons extended far beyond the classroom. Students used natural materials such as leaves, rocks, twigs, and pine cones to count, sort, and measure. They created shapes on outdoor geoboards, measured puddles with their feet, and used nature’s patterns to explore mathematical ideas. This hands-on approach brought learning to life, helping students see how math is connected to the world around them.
Snow STEAM Projects: Embracing the Seasons
Winter learning at St. Anne was anything but ordinary. Through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) projects, students built forts, igloos, and walls using snow bricks. These hands-on activities introduced concepts in physics, teamwork, and engineering while celebrating creativity and collaboration.
Students later added colourful details to their snow structures using food colouring, turning science into art. These projects encouraged innovation, problem-solving, and an appreciation for how seasonal changes can inspire learning.
A Holistic Approach to Learning
At St. Anne School, outdoor learning was about more than academics. It nurtured curiosity, creativity, and resilience while fostering physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Engaging with nature in this way helped students develop confidence and respect for the environment.
Educators were proud of the growth they saw in their students each day and looked forward to continuing these enriching outdoor experiences in the years ahead. Outdoor learning at St. Anne was a powerful reminder that the world itself is a classroom, where every tree, rock, and snowflake offers a new opportunity to learn, grow, and connect.
