Outdoor Classroom

An Outdoor Classroom is a space for children to interact with the natural world through play-based and multi-sensory activities. The goal of the Outdoor Classroom is simple: to increase the quantity, quality, and benefits of outdoor experiences for children!

The Evolution of Outdoor Classrooms at Paddington Station

In 2017 & 2018 Paddington Station fully renovated both Outdoor Classrooms. The new spaces are a place to say "yes" to children! Yes to running, yes to rolling down the hill, yes to water play, yes to playing in the mud, yes to building, yes to exploring gardens, yes to dances and plays, and yes to countless other discoveries and exploration.

Our endeavor was to create these beautiful Outdoor Classrooms as a place for children to explore and interact with each other and nature. At Paddington our learning isn't just taking place inside the classroom, but also outside in our beautiful spaces. There are planters to grow our gardens, rumble bars to ride our bikes over, an outdoor kitchen to splash and imagine, blocks for engineering, and plenty of open space to run!

The Outdoor Classroom is used in so many ways; students engage in unstructured gross motor experiences, teachers facilitate multi-sensory learning opportunities, students engage in both parallel and cooperative play, and the larger community collaborates together in order to take care of our natural space.

During the 2019 - 2020 academic year the Paddington Outdoor Ambassadors created 20 curriculum bins focused on scientific and outdoor learning experiences. Teachers are encouraged to use these curriculum bins to further student engagement with nature for many years to come!

We all learn through our senses, but perhaps especially in the early years when every color, scent and texture is new. The garden abounds with things to look at, touch, and smell. -The Garden Classroom, Cathy James

A "Virtual Tour" of our Outdoor Classroom Spaces

Preschool Area - the "Sandy Side"

Affectionately known as the “Sandy Side”, this outdoor area features natural materials that ignite imagination! This area features a space for large cooperative building along with sandy exploration. Children enjoy using the two bridges for a game of “The Billy Goats Gruff” and reenacting dramatic play. In the center of the space the children are often found arranging the large sticks to create fires, teepees, homes for animals, and more. Large wooden mushrooms provide the perfect spot for quiet moments of reflection and "Nancy's Garden" has a wandering path that allows for multi-sensory exploration.

Preschool Area - the "Grassy Side"

This lush and expansive area of the preschool playground features room for children to engage in gross motor activities either individually or with a larger group. Kids are encouraged to ride bikes along our paved bike path, climb the branches of trees, and help to maintain the numerous garden beds! There is also a stage area perfect for a student-led play or musical concert. Mature trees provide students with ample shade and a grassy knoll becomes the perfect sledding hill during winter months. During warmer months, Library and Science are often held outdoors!

Toddler Area

This lovely area features a sunken “secret garden”, stage platform perfect for imaginative play, stepping stones to inspire quick moments of contemplation, a sandbox perfect for digging and sensory play, and ample space for large gross motor activities like bike riding and cart pushing! Young artists leave their mark on the outdoor easel and chalk drawings decorate the sidewalks. The Toddler Outdoor Classroom was designed with the young child in mind and features many developmentally appropriate materials that promote curiosity and joy!

Paddington Station has an Outdoor Curriculum tailored to our school!

Teachers are encouraged to utilize outdoor curriculum bins - these are specialized bins that teachers can take outside and easily implement in our outdoor classrooms
Each bin is filled with an a lesson plan, materials, and various extensions for taking the activity back into the classroom
Each curriculum bins has differentiated lessons based on the ages of students, with the goal being to meet the needs of all early childhood students at Paddington
The outdoor curriculum bins can be used with both small groups and large groups of students, and can also be used in the big room if necessary depending on the weather
Almost every bin has a literacy component
Bins were created based on the emergent interests of students at Paddington Station

Bringing Outdoor Education to your home!

We would love to share a few examples of our lesson plans that we have altered for families to access at home.
Click on the titles below!

Support Native Wildlife!

Paddington Station's Outdoor Classrooms are recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation!

We are proud to care for and support native plants, animals, and invertebrates.

Resources We Love on Outdoor Learning
Balanced and Barefoot, Angela J. Hanscom
The Garden Classroom, Cathy James
Heart-Centered Teaching Inspired by Nature, Nancy Rosenow
Nature Play at Home, Nancy Striniste