Student Contributor: P. Hernandez
This tool is best to do at the beginning of the lesson. It allows students to get some fresh air and clear their minds. At the end of the walk, they be more refreshed and ready to learn, preventing problems or bad behaviors from arising during the lesson.
A nature walk is when the teacher takes out their students for a short 5-minute walk around the outside of the school to get some fresh air and get the wiggles out before the start of class. When implementing this tool, it is important to keep in mind the weather, the student to teacher ratio, and safety. Before implementing this tool it is important that you establish a procedure and expectations with the class and you review them every time before doing it. This ensures the tool is done successfully and no one gets hurt and the students can get the best out of the experience. This has been done with my 8th graders, and they absolutely love it. Even though it is just walking around the school, the fact that they are outside gets them excited and feels like a much-needed breather. This can really be done at anytime of the day, although it is recommended at the beginning of the lesson it can also be done during the lesson when you notice students starting to lose interest or get off task, this will act as a brain break and get them reenergized and ready to keep learning again.
This tool goes best in the preventative phase because it allows students a chance to clear their minds and talk with their friends for a while before redirecting their attention in class. This can be especially helpful for the last period of the day in middle school because at that point students are tired out and feel overwhelmed. Allowing students, the opportunity to interact nonacademically for a few minutes at the beginning of class and going out for some fresh air can help prevent disruptions in class and can help students regain energy that is why it is best in the preventative phase. However, it can also be supportive if you have already started your lesson and you notice students are often getting off task, you can take a break from the lesson and go for a nature walk. This helps support student learning as it redirects their attention during the learning. This tool fits best with the student-directed and collaborative theory as it allows students to take initiative and expectations are put in place and followed by the students as to not take advantage of this privilege.
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Tool Source: I got this idea from one of the English teachers at my school.
