Outdoor Education | The Robertson Program | Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

The Robertson Program

Introduction to Outdoor Education

The Robertson Program worked closely with Mine Centre Public School Kindergarten Teacher Marge Hale and Early Childhood Educator Sara Empey to develop activities that support math and science exploration in the outdoors.

Located 45 minutes outside of Fort Frances, Ontario, Mine Centre P.S. has been developing an outdoor classroom, better known as “camp” by staff and students. The space has a meeting area with benches, a fire pit, a shelter and trails through the surrounding woods – all for the students to enjoy and explore.

Marge and Sarah are sharing some of the math- and science-focused activities that their students enjoy. Feel free to try them with your own students in an outdoor space.

Outdoor Activities for Early Years Classrooms

Birding Field Trip

A child looking through a a set of binoculars outside.

Get your students outside and excited about making observations! We suggest a field trip to a location with potential to see a variety of birds, but the school playground is a good spot, too!

Building Birds Nests

A bird's nest

Students construct their own bird nest made of items they think are good options for a bird's nest.

Exploration with Balance Scales

Three kids sat at a table looking at a scale

Provide students with an opportunity to learn the use of balance scales in a practical outdoor setting.

Exploring Bird Nests

A bird's nest

Students observe bird nests and discuss which materials are best used in their construction.

Finding Geometric Shapes Outside

A kid holding a triangle made from twigs.

Sticks and stones can make two and three-dimensional shapes that students can use to explore geometry in an outdoor setting.

Further Exploration with Balance Scales

A close up of a scale being balanced with gloves on one side

Students use balance scales to become more familiar with the concepts of weight, balance and measurement.

Getting to Know eBird

A large bird flying towards another bird that is standing on the ground.

Introduce your students to a database of bird information contributed by everyday birders. As your navigate the website, they will encounter bar charts, data regarding habitat, location, population and migration.

How Many Steps?

A kid smiling, holding a pedometer

Students quantify distance by walking along a pathway from one location to another wearing pedometers.

Magnets

A kid digging into snow with a shovel.

Children engage in an exploration of magnets, further discovering what items are magnetic and what items are not.

Measuring Imprints Outside

A kid measuring an animal imprint in snow

Students make and measure imprints outside and learn how they represent non-standard units of measurement.

Measuring the Circumference of a Tree

An adult and child measuring the circumference of a tree

Students use standard units of measurement to measure and compare the circumferences of trees.

Measuring the Depth of Snow

A measuring stick standing in snow

Snowfall can be a learning opportunity when students measure and compare the depth of the fallen snow each week.

The Feeder Project

Two birds eating seeds out of a bird feeder.

Have your students consider these details as they plan a potential bird feeder design. Along the way, they’ll also consider different costs, including construction and food type.

The Plants Around Us

young boy with a backpack sits on the roadside, trying to match a roadside plant with a plants on a piece of paper.

Students learn about the types and parts of a plant by exploring their natural environment.