Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education introduces our students to a classroom without walls—where every tree, rock, and breeze invites exploration and inquiry. Outdoor education specialist Kacy Lebby says, “My goal is to collaborate closely with classroom and specialist teachers, aligning our outdoor activities with the curriculum to create hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.”
As they journey through the grades, our students practice fundamental scientific principles through field studies. While delving into the secrets of the soil, the patterns of rainfall, and the diversity of local flora and fauna, they are guided to observe, question, and analyze with the keen eye of a scientist. Outdoor education encourages students to engage their senses and ask questions to unlock the mysteries of the natural world and supports social-emotional learning through shared experiences, teamwork, communication, and collective problem-solving.
Explorers in the wild
THE OUTDOOR ED CURRICULUM
Outdoor education cultivates a community of explorers and stewards of the natural world, laying the foundation for a lifetime of adventurous inquiry. Progressing from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, students develop a deep connection to the natural world and a sense of environmental stewardship.
Connecting with their classroom curriculum, students learn about seasonal changes, animal habitats and animal adaptations through careful observation. Hands-on activities like gardening and orienteering reinforce academic concepts in mathematics and biology while also encouraging physical activity and teaching important life skills like patience, stillness, and mindfulness.
Using the skills developed in the earlier grades, older students begin to explore Leave No Trace principles and identify connections between academic concepts like the water cycle and practical environmental stewardship practices like permeable pavement and eco-friendly garden design.
EXPLORE MORE | FILTER BY GRADE
In outdoor ed class, pre-k students immerse themselves in discovering nature’s patterns, engaging their senses in the garden, birdwatching, planting seeds, composting and much, much more. These activities aim to foster students' connection with the environment, sparking curiosity and creating a foundation for a love for learning outside.
Kindergarteners embrace outdoor education by immersing themselves in nature's wonders while learning about patterns, habitats, and the five senses. They actively engage in birdwatching, planting seeds, and observing the school garden, fostering a deep connection with the environment. Through weather preparation and outdoor learning, they develop resilience and a love for exploring the natural world.
First-grade students at Epiphany School cultivate an appreciation for nature and practicing skills of exploration. They engage in activities such as harvesting in the garden, neighborhood walks, and creating habitats for native animals using found objects. Through hands-on experiences, they learn about organisms, native plants, and animal traits, eagerly preparing for spring gardening while contributing to the Epiphany Student Garden and supporting the community through the school's annual pop-up farmer's market.
Second-grade students explore the changes in seasons through neighborhood walks, tree investigations, and scavenger hunts. They utilize their senses to observe evidence of seasonal changes and make connections to their own lives and peers. Engaging in activities like habitat hunts and bird-watching, they gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of living organisms and their environments.
Third graders explore animal adaptation through a common creature—the squirrel. They engage in scavenger hunts to observe animals, ask questions, and conduct research to deepen their understanding. In the spring, they garden-plan, explore math concepts, plant seed starts, and learn about plant survival needs through hands-on learning experiences in nature.
Fourth graders study stormwater, investigating its causes and impacts in urban settings. They examine different surfaces on campus, identify problem areas, and explore solutions such as permeable pavement and rain gardens. Additionally, they participate in planting activities, while also learning about Leave No Trace principles to minimize environmental impacts.
Fifth graders explore the ecology of their schoolyard and the Madrona neighborhood while developing teamwork skills. They delve into vocabulary such as ecosystem, abiotic, and biotic, applying their knowledge through activities like item collection walks and research projects on regional plants and animals. Additionally, they gain an understanding and commitment to environmental stewardship, learning about Leave No Trace principles, conducting trash decomposition experiments, and designing eco-friendly garden structures.
The Latest...
Monthly grade-level updates from our outdoor ed classroom.
- 4th Grade
Outdoor Education News in February: Fourth Grade
In outdoor education class, the fourth graders have been learning about stormwater. Students started the unit by trying to understand why stormwater can cause flooding in an urban setting. They have investigated different types of surfaces found on campus and identified several places that are problem areas in the school yard. In the coming weeks, they will begin to design solutions to the problems they observed.
- 3rd Grade
Outdoor Education News in February: Third Grade
The third graders have been diving into the fascinating world of plants in outdoor education! They’ve explored the life cycle of plants, experimented with how dandelions grow in unexpected places, and debated whether these familiar yellow flowers are friends or foes. Through hands-on activities in the garden, students are learning about seed dispersal, plant adaptations, and the important role dandelions play in supporting local wildlife.
- 1st Grade
Outdoor Education News in February: First Grade
In outdoor education, our first graders have been exploring the fascinating world of plants! In the garden they observed plant parts, asked questions, and learned about plant structures and how they help plants survive through adaptations. Through hands-on and close-up investigations with microscopes, students practiced their observation skills and discovered the unique elements of the plants in their environment. In the weeks to come they will learn about biomimicry and begin to design a solution to a problem based on a solution nature provides.
- Pre-Kindergarten
Outdoor Education News in February: Pre-K
In outdoor education, Pre-K has been exploring the world of birds and how we can help protect them! Through a bird scavenger hunt, wingspan painting, and creating bird masks and decals, students engaged in fun, hands-on learning. These activities helped them understand bird adaptations, their importance in nature, and the ways we can be good stewards for our feathered friends.
- 5th Grade
Outdoor Education News in January: Fifth Grade
Fifth-grade students have been investigating the living and non-living components of an ecosystem and learning how they interact to maintain balance. They explored the concept of camouflage by decorating paper moths and placing them in plain sight around the classroom—some still remain hidden! This activity, along with their studies, has helped them understand the crucial role trees play in an ecosystem, the significant impact when one is cut down, and how we can help our environment.
- 2nd Grade
Outdoor Education in January: Second Grade
Second-grade students have been learning how to tie different types of knots, including the overhand knot, clove hitch, shear lashing, and diagonal knot. They’ve been practicing these knots to design and build mini-rafts using sticks and twine, applying their skills to create sturdy structures. This hands-on activity helps them understand the importance of knots in building and problem-solving, while also boosting their creativity and teamwork skills.