Outdoor Education

Direct experience with the natural world is an integral part of a Montessori education. Maria Montessori insisted that children have as much exposure as possible to the real things they were studying in class. For example, when children are learning about the parts of leaves, it is best for them to go out and collect real leaves to examine and classify. These experiences not only deepen their learning, but they help the child’s developing sense of order within the world around them. Nature is orderly; it has rhythms and patterns, and every part of the natural world serves an individual purpose that contributes to the whole. When children spend time exploring, studying, and playing in the natural world, they internalize a deep appreciation for that natural order. Contemporary research confirms that time spent in natural outdoor settings is essential to their physical, psychological, and cognitive development.

Check out the resources below to learn more about the importance of being outdoors.