Inspired by Denmark schools, Evansville Day School develops outdoor classrooms
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In the months leading up to the school year, Leah Whitaker searched for ways Evansville Day School students could learn in-person while safely maintaining the school's "learn through play" educational plan.
The risks of the novel coronavirus forced Whitaker and other EDS administrators to seek other instructional options for the school's reopening.
As the school's advancement director, Whitaker began researching school reopening plans in Denmark. Based on a series of case studies, the Scandinavian country was able to successfully manage the spread of COVID-19, largely due to the installation of outdoor classrooms.
After speaking with EDS officials, Whitaker contacted private donors and assembled a team of volunteers to build outdoor shaded structures.
"The outdoor environment has always been an integral part of our educational experience, so it was really a natural progression for us to extend that a little bit," Whitaker said. "It wasn't a big change for us; we just kind of built structures to make it official."
In a matter of two-to-three weeks, EDS teacher Betsy Gladding and her husband Steve Gladding built two 14-by-28-foot units, large enough to fit 15-20 students socially distanced under their canvas-woven rooftops, Whitaker said.
With these structures in place, Whitaker said students can participate in indoor exercises outside and have more time to play in the school's sandbox, water table, mud kitchen and other outdoor activities.
The administrator said these spaces will also help students remain in line with EDS' mitigation strategies, which include the use of masks, social distancing, temperature checks and other safety protocols.
So far, student Courtney Traylor said she's enjoyed the additional time outdoors.
“It’s kind of cool that we can do some of our classes outside and get fresh air instead of staying inside,” the third-grader said.
EDS plans to place three more outdoor structures on school grounds. Each learning division – preschool, primary, middle and upper school – will have an outdoor classroom, and the school will add a shared outdoor common area, Whitaker said.
Since welcoming back students on Aug. 12, first-grade teacher Megan Collins said she's already noticed the differences the outdoor structures have made.
"They absolutely love being able to learn outside," Collins said. "They can explore and create in ways that aren’t possible indoors. There is also something very calming about being outdoors, and this allows us to provide our students chances to reset and refocus."
While outdoor learning has always been an integral part of EDS' education plan, pre-kindergarten teacher Christina Gilliam said students appear to be happier and more mindful this school year.
"They are happier, more creative, and are already showing increased focus in learning after just a few weeks of increased outdoor learning," she said. "They have shown a strong interest in mindfulness and breathing techniques and are more aware of their personal energy."
Gilliam said she's hopeful EDS continues to go forward with increased outdoor learning even when concerns of transmission of COVID-19 taper, as it has already improved students' focus and allowed for more creative instruction.
"Both teachers and students are able to fully appreciate the positive effects of being outdoors and discovering new ways of defining teaching and learning roles," Gilliam said. "I truly believe that our staff will continue to find ways to hold on to that experience in ways that work for their own individual classrooms."
Whitaker said she's open to giving design instructions to other schools to ensure other districts are able to provide safe learning environments for their students.
"We're safer when other kids are safer," she said. "Anything I can do to promote this strategy to mitigate the virus, I'm more than willing to put it out there."