What is Take Me Outside?

Take Me Outside is something that was started as a non-profit organization that is based around getting kids outside all across North America/Turtle Island. They believe that getting kids outside should happen everyday regularly, getting kids to explore, play and learn outside. They work collaboratively with school boards, other organizations, and individuals to help encourage different projects and initiatives.

How does this relate to the in-situ?

Us doing this art/literacy activity helps kids find the art and creativity within nature and the world around them. Kids love story books so attaching this activity to the story of Leaf Man helps bring more imagination to the activity. We also got to teach them briefly about lots of different animals within the area and what they are called in Ktunaxa. This relates to two out of the three main initiatives of Take Me Outside, learning about the outside world around us and exploring outside.

How can you bring this into your classroom?

Some kids might not get the opportunity and chance to get to go outside and play so as teachers it is just as important that we teach them as it is that we make sure they get a fair chance at going outside everyday. Take Me Outside has a tab with all different sorts of resources and areas you can look into. They even have a courses that for teachers so we as educators can learn how to better incorporate outdoor learning into our classrooms. They have all sorts of lesson plans for free use, they are organized by topics so that if you want to teach a certain topic or if your class has an interest then you can find it easier.

How will this affect my teaching?

As a teacher it is so important to take care of our students complete well-being, and getting kids outside is such a big part of that. As sad as it is some kids don’t get the opportunity to go outside and play in a meaningful way when they are at home, so as teachers we need to make sure that every student has the opportunity. This starts with making time in your day plan to make sure that students get the opportunity. They need to get the opportunity outside of just the two recesses a day, and even getting them off campus at least a couple times of year, this way they will get to learn about their community and the environment around them. This is something I feel really passionate about because I think it’s our job as teachers to watch out for our students and make sure our students get the best opportunities possible. In everything not just learning opportunities but opportunities to grow and develop and explore the world around them. When I get my own classroom I want to incorporate going outside on an adventure of some sort about once every two weeks. I would find ways to root it within local Indigenous pedagogies and reach out to the local Indigenous Peoples to make sure that I don’t miss speak on what I teach my students.