Outdoor Classroom

children playing outdoors at a mud kitchen

children taking turns going down a slide

a child stirring mud and sand in a muffin tin

children making a pretend spider web with tape and leaves outdoors

a child sticking a leaf to a spider web made out of tape

a child discovering items left out in the cold that are now frozen in a block of ice

children looking at pieces of broken ice on a table

a child holding a muffin tin with pretend cupcakes made from sand

children posing for a picture under a sign that reads: preschool outdoor classroom

In our outdoor classroom, the children have opportunities to participate in open ended exploration and unstructured play; two valuable components to a child’s life long learning. The children are given chances to discover, experiment, and respond to the natural elements around them throughout the seasons.

We have created a space that fosters and supports internal connections with the natural environment and allows children to reflect within themselves to build their self identity, awareness, and esteem. The natural elements can offer rewarding and thought-producing opportunities for children to experience and develop patience, focus, strength, survival, endurance, kindness, curiosity, and confidence.

The children will find a mud kitchen for cooking, chalkboards, easels, and a sensory garden planted with herbs of different scents and textures. Water and sand areas are available for the children to explore and engineer designs, experiment, and reflect on their observations. The outdoor classroom is shaped by plantings and trees provide shade for gathering under to listen to a story, draw, paint or just sit and observe.

The outdoor classroom was funded by the generosity of the Education Foundation of Rockport and was established in spring of 2021.

Child holding bean bag on his head outside

children outside playing at a mud kitchen