Take Me Outside is a movement and organization gaining traction throughout Canada, and the grade 3 and 4 class in Nokomis School is set to become part of the excitement. Take Me Outside Day is October 20, and thanks to teacher Erin Richard, the class will be engaged in learning and discovery with a natural focus. The event coincides with Saskatchewan’s Education Week.

“Take Me Outside” has been happening for 11 years across Canada,” explains Richard. “This is the first year that Nokomis School has participated in this activity. The idea (in the program) is to take your class outside for one hour, and we decided we were going to ramp that up a little bit and spend the whole day outside.”

During the experience, Richard and the students will cover the regular curriculum while integrating outdoor experiences. Science, writing, reading, math, art, and physical education will all be part of the routine for students immersed in a prairie fall’s splendour. Richard sees it as a different way of learning for her students. In fact, Richard says that the school is looking forward to building an outdoor classroom. 

“This is a great way to get our students used to being outside. We feel the outdoor environment will allow our students to be engaged in that environment. We’re going to explore nature, habitats, animals, measure different things and engage with what we have here at Nokomis School.”

The objective will be to move outside the regular classroom once a month for at least a portion of the day, explains Richard. Far from being simply a change in venue for its own sake, each of the months, with their characteristic weather conditions, will afford new opportunities for learning. 

“It will create a different perspective for learning. It creates more authentic learning opportunities outside in the natural environment.”

Students will be dressed up for the elements and will bring a reusable bag to house their learning tools for the day. That, and a great attitude, are all that’s required for success in this new learning venture, says Richard.