Homeschooling is a lot of fun, isn’t it? But who wants to keep their kids cooped up inside all day?! It’s time to get out and enjoy one of the BEST benefits of homeschooling, being able to have an outside classroom! It’s time to take your classroom outdoors this fall (spring and summer too!). Here are some tips on how to make this happen.

Outside Classroom – Tips for Taking Your Classroom Outdoors

Find some curriculum like the Giles Frontier that helps you learn in nature. I also highly recommend the book The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning for ideas on taking your learning outside.

Visit a local park

There is always a ton to do at the local parks. Sure, there are swing sets and jungle gyms, but there is also a chance to explore. Look at the grass together and explore the entire park. Check out the wildlife, take a nature walk and study what is around you. Identify bugs and what type trees the leaves come from.

Spend time observing

When you take your classroom outdoors, you don’t have to always be doing something. One thing you can do with your kids is to observe what’s going on around them. Going outdoors is so much more exciting than being indoors. There is so much to see, people watch see what the clouds are doing, the animals are doing, etc.

Let your kids explore

Too many times we hold our kids back because we are afraid. Taking your classroom outdoors is the perfect time to allow them to explore. You can still keep an eye on them, but it’s FUN to watch your kids explore and open up around you. Let them catch bugs, or see what they can catch in the creek!

Make it a whole day affair

Homeschooling doesn’t mean you have to sit indoors all day long and look at textbooks. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can make it what you want. Take your classroom outdoors and make a whole day of it. You’ll be amazed at how awesome and freeing it is.

Use your imagination mama

The thing about being outdoors is that it can be kind of boring to some. When it comes to taking your classroom outdoors, you really have to use your imagination. Count trees and leaves, look for colors in nature, use your imagination.

Think about the opportunities

When you’re homeschooling outside, you are providing so many opportunities for your kids. They aren’t stuck inside on a computer all day. They can grow spiritually, physically and so much more when you take your classroom outdoors. You can do an autumn nature studies, or even do a study on birds.

Enjoy what nature has to offer

Nature has a lot to offer. Maybe your boys love bugs, being outdoors is the perfect way to take advantage of that. Maybe your girls love to walk and enjoy nature, and they can do that! My boys love to run around and be crazy, and the outdoors gives them a chance to do that.

Just move your day outdoors

Yep take whatever you plan to do today, spread out a blanket on the grass and do it outside. Is your little one counting with math? They can use blades of grass, leaves, sticks, and more to count with. Older ones can just lay outside and read their books and soak up the sun. You will be amazed at what a little fresh air and unplugging will do for you just by having an outside classroom for a day!

Taking your classroom outdoors this fall is perfect! The weather is cooler, and there are tons of activities to do in the fall weather. What homeschooling activities do you love doing outside?