Literacy and Language Learning Outdoors

Overview

Engage young learners with early literacy and mark making by providing sticks, chalk, and paint for outdoor play. Outdoor environments are perfect for exploring imaginative story play, forms, functions, and genres of texts.

Learning Objective: Expand your understanding of how to locate language and literacy learning meaningfully outdoors.

Suggested Discussion Questions

Please use these prompts to dialogue with colleagues how you might engage with outdoor play and learning.

How do you feel about teaching language arts and literacy outdoors?
Plan a literacy walk around your school yard. How are letters and words observable in outdoor spaces?
Which imaginary play areas could be developed for students to engage with story play outdoors?