4 ideas for fun outdoor lessons with playground canopies
The pandemic has highlighted the value of outdoor lessons. Nationwide, schools have often taken the teaching outside to stop coronavirus…
The pandemic has highlighted the value of outdoor lessons. Nationwide, schools have often taken the teaching outside to stop coronavirus from spreading.
Outdoor lessons can benefit students’ education, too. 88% of teachers agreed that outdoor classes make students more engaged in their learning than they would be inside. The change of scenery goes a long way for students – especially during those rare moments of pleasant British weather!
To help your school make the most of outdoor learning, we’re sharing 4 fun ideas for outdoor lessons that make use of playground canopies.
1. Sensory learning
Playground canopies are well-suited to sensory development classes, which enable children to learn by using their senses. These lessons involve a multisensory approach to learning, helping students to stay engaged and focussed.
Teachers can plan lessons around sensory learning activities. These might involve:
- asking students to close their eyes and try to identify birds by listening to their sounds
- providing a selection of leaves or flowers to children to get them to describe the different textures and feelings in their hands
- encouraging students to use their imagination by describing what clouds are shaped like.
Students can enjoy these activities, rain or shine, under the shelter of the playground canopy.
2. Forest school lessons
Many schools are embracing the Scandinavian concept of forest school, which refers to sessions where children interact with the natural world.
Here are a few ideas to run engaging forest school sessions:
- Set up a mud cafe under the canopy by using recyclable containers so children can serve mud-based ‘dishes’ (we use that term lightly!)
- Task students to make a masterpiece on the ground or on paper by creatively arranging leaves, flowers, and sticks.
- Challenge the class to work in small groups to build the tallest stick tower they can in just ten minutes.
Playground canopies can serve as outdoor learning hubs for your forest school. This gives the children a place to reconvene without needing to go into the main building covered in mud!
3. Art classes
Playground canopies work perfectly for art lessons. They provide the shelter to protect students (and their artwork) from the elements, and without the risk of staining carpets or furniture.
In an outdoor setting, children have plenty of room to make art. For instance, students can work together to decorate a huge sheet of paper – perhaps with a collage of their handprints. Or, if the class wants something more dynamic, why not try splatter painting? This involves students making art by splattering paint on a large canvas!
What’s more, as playground canopies provide an outdoor shelter for students, these messy art classes can take place in any weather.
4. Group reading
If teachers are looking for a relaxing place for reading time, playground canopies are the ideal spot. By moving the class under the shelter, students can enjoy reading aloud or silently with some natural lighting and ambience.
This option is especially helpful during the summer – when the classroom can feel like a greenhouse. Teachers can simply take the class outside and under the canopy to read in a cool, well-ventilated environment where heat exhaustion or sunburn won’t be an issue.
We hope this blog has inspired you to make the most of outdoor learning with playground canopies. If you’re looking for an affordable lease on playground canopies, look no further than Utility Rentals. Simply get in touch with our helpful team today, and we’ll arrange a simple yet compliant lease that works for your school and its budget.
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