Do you do school outside?

[melissel]

The few times I've tried it, it really hasn't worked because DD7 is distracted by wanting to play or wander. I also find it hard to read aloud because DD likes to sit next to me and read along. However, I'm really wanting to take advantage of the beautiful weather we're having and sit out on the patio.

 

If you do school outside, how do you make it work logistically?

 

TIA!

[adams101]

My kids have been doing their reading outside on the porch. It works for them, but they are 9 and 11. It is finally cooling off here instead of over 100 every day.:tongue_smilie:

[Pretty in Pink]

Yes, we do some studies outdoors when weather permits. I prefer to do worksheets inside as they tend to blow around easily. I guess you could always tape them down to a cookie sheet or something though. We do our read alouds outside frequently.

[Denisemomof4]

my favorite memories of schooling with the boys were starting the day with devotions and breakfast at the river, and reading our history out loud around a campfire. Sometimes we'd cook something outside and eat or drink hot beverages around the fire.

 

SWEET days.

[Nan in Mass]

Clothespins, lots of clothespins LOL. And clipboards. A long glider so everyone can sit down together. Rope swings and docks are good for giving everyone something to do while you read aloud.

[lauracolumbus]

Yes, but only if I'm not in a hard core mood. Fun, relaxing reading or art work is good for outside time.

 

Laura

[LarlaB]

I, too, only opt for outside work when I'm not in a hard-core homeschool mood. We use clipboards for worksheets, or use chalk on the driveway. And I love doing science outside...even just reading the info sheets seems more organic when outdoors. :)

 

Soon enough we'll be cooped up inside because of the cold.

[Laurel]

We try sometimes but it's almost always too windy. And if they get distracted, it's usually for a good cause (nature study), so I don't have the heart to bring them back.

[lionfamily1999]

We can do it at home, but not at the state park (lesson learned). Ds does get distracted, especially with little brother playing away.

 

It can be done, but, for us, it has to be short spurts, one subject at a time.

[Donna]

especially with the weather we have had the last few days. We have a table on the patio so sit outside to work, weather permitting.:001_smile:

[ElizabethB]

In our last house, I did school with my daughter on the trampoline once and also several times sitting next to her on the front steps. Our townhouse doesn't have as good of outdoor options, so we probably won't here in LA.

[Dayle in Guatemala]

We will do reading outside or something like that, but, not a subject like Math where you need to balance a book, notebook, pencil, and other things because we don't have a table outside.

[Mrs Mungo]

Our school room is an extra room that is attached to our garage. Our patio furniture is only steps away. So, yes, we school outside sometimes. :)

[Moni]

We don't.

If I want the kids to concentrate and they don't concentrate outside. well, I'd just do school indoors.

:seeya:

[Ravin]

We do. We probably should more often. I always figure if she starts playing it's all to the good. I often have a hard time getting her to play outside. Our biggest problem is that it's only pleasant in the morning early, but that's also when the moquitoes come wandering off the golf course, out for blood.

[Mommyof4ks]

Yes, we read under the trees in the backyard and do science experiments on the front drive. The younger ones do tend to get distracted when I read, but if I pick a fun book they will come back easily.

[Mom22ns]

We do reading, PE and lunch outside. We also do messy science labs outside if the weather is good. We don't do anything else though. Those things let us take some outdoor breaks in our day, but either don't require concentration or are easy for my kids to concentrate for. I would never consider doing math, science study, social studies (other than a living book) or writing outside.

[Dirtroad]

Can't do it.... to much to see and get distracted by! Can't even read outside! Just hurry & finish and enjoy the out of doors as soon as possible.:) I know many love it.... I wish I could get any work done.

[Girlmom123]

Yes, we love to school outside, but it is in short spurts as someone else mentioned. When they were smaller, they used to get so distracted but now they're so used to it, they much better able to focus. And it doesn't get that windy here, so don't have to worry about papers blowing.

 

I would suggest while they're little, just do little spurts, and maybe incorporate some activities outside that correspond to the lesson.

[RanchGirl]

I tried today and it didn't last long due to a distracted 7 year old. I will try again tomorrow. I might lay a blanket down on the grass so they are right next to the book instead of sitting around the patio table. We'll see how it goes. I hate to waste this beautiful weather sitting inside!

[Radish4ever]

The only outside schooling we do is PE ;) AKA free play. hehe Sometimes I'll let them go wild with sidewalk chalk and I'll request certain things get drawn or written (to reinforce lessons) or sometimes while they hop on stepping stones, we'll do counting or the alphabet or something....

 

Our weather is rarely mild enough to school outside on a regular basis until about October :)

[eternalknot]

We school outside fairly often. I hate being stuck indoors. My son regularly does some subjects on the back patio, at his whim. So long as the work is done on these days, I don't really care where he does it. WHen we MOVE school outside, we go with the understanding that there WILL be distractions, and that it won't be as efficient as schooling indoors. But isn't that part of the point of taking it outside? :) change of scenery, change of pace

 

I try to have a game plan so that the kids know what to expect. "Okay, first we're going to read 2 chapters, then we'll picnic [our version of narrations is done during this time - lots of discussions on what we've just read and summarizing it]. After our picnic you can play on the playground for about 15 minutes, then we'll head over to the creek to finish up math."

 

We move around the park, so that the transition back from play to school is less about "aw, man, I want to keep playing" and more of a natural segue (they'd have to leave that play spot anyhow). We have a reading and picnic spot; then not far away, we do prayers in the volleyball pit; we do math down by the creek; etc.

 

Knowing what to expect, and having a general "outside school" routine helps us balance school with play on those days. Plus they know that whatever work isn't done is tacked on to the next day, so my son tries to manage his time efficiently. Some days he'll chose more play than school outside, and have a loooong school day the next day as he makes up his work. I'm okay with that, so is he. Most times, though, he strikes a self-imposed balance and gets most of his work done outside.

[IsabelC]

We don't try to do reading, writing etc outside. We do nature walks and related stuff (eg today we walked around looking for signs of Spring and picking flowers to display on our Seasonal Table).

[Chris in VA]

It's a lovely image, and occasionally we can do something like reading aloud in the hammock, but mostly we go outside during school to run in the field next to our house or take the dog out. I always get such a grateful, joyous feeling when I see Nature Girl out running and being "free," which she can't do when she's at the school down the road.

We are building a tree house--maybe we will school in that a little when it's built! I can envision her doing some independent work up there, at least!:D

[1GirlTwinBoys]

We do a lot of our reading outside. Usually on the front porch swing or we pack a picnic, blanket & books and go to our side yard. :001_smile: