This past year, at Katahdin Elementary School, we were able to be in person for our out-of-school program, meeting four days per week from 1 pm until 2:30 pm. Two days per week, we implemented The Walking Classroom. On average, ten students participated in this activity.
We walked the trails that had been developed on our school grounds by our teachers, community volunteers, school board members, and the students. As we walked and listened to the wonderful lessons, we would stop and have discussions on the topic we had collectively chosen.
QUICK TIP: I have found that if you let the students choose the topic, they are more invested in listening! Often the podcast topic they would choose was connected to the lessons they were being being taught in their regular classroom environment. To have this opportunity to support their classroom lessons and make the connection to a Walking Classroom lesson was priceless!
The classroom teachers were thrilled when we shared our lessons with them. In particular, one student decided to research a topic to further educate the rest of us on what he discovered. Once again, having the students have a voice and choice in the topics to choose from proved successful!
As those of us using the program know there are many wonderful Walking Classroom podcasts to choose from. When I would choose the topic, it helped the students understand we all get a choice! The Walking Classroom is a wonderful educational activity for our out-of-school program.
Gail Pocock
Out-of-School Coordinator
Katahdin Elementary
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