HIGH POINT, N.C. — As students across the Triad are getting ready for final exams, research shows there's a benefit to getting them out of the classroom and into nature to study.
Research out of England found that 92 percent of teachers report more engaged students with better behavior when they are in an outdoor learning environment.
University of Arizona research found being in nature can make you up to 60 percent more creative, improve your mood by 20 percent and reduce stress levels by 12 percent.
One Guilford County School has the perfect setup for it. Check out Florence Elementary in High Point’s outdoor classroom. Man, I would have loved this as a kid! Their staff says ??
“It keeps them engaged, right? And we have all different types of learners, said Tina Lipstreu, Curriculum Facilitator at Florence Elementary. “We have some learners who need by doing, and so we try to keep things physical and give them the space where they can move their bodies. We also have learners who need to see things and feel things and touch things. We also have learners who love to be outside in nature, and just the sounds and the smells and the environment can help them learn better. So it's really trying to tap into each child's individual needs so that we can meet all of those and help them grow.”
The school also has a courtyard with tables outside to learn. They even use it as a science lab, where kids can collect caterpillars and watch them grow up and turn into butterflies.