Active Learning in Biology Outside the Classroom In The Backyard

Posted by Abhinav Bhutada on December 20th, 2018

The academic learnings are not always restricted to the classroom. Many subjects like Biology, History, Arts, and more should be learned outside the classroom too, in their natural place or happenings.

Its a way of practical learning that enhances the knowledge and skill of the candidate. Let us have a quick rundown about active learning in biology outside of the classroom in the backyard.

Biology is a natural subject everyone finds attractive to learn. Learning biology is lifelong to maintain good habits for healthy sustenance of our life, and friendly interaction with our Nature.  

And, if we consider the high school students, biology cannot be learned always within the closed classrooms and laboratory alone.

It is necessary to observe the plants or animals at their natural habitat to understand how they are inter-connected with Nature. Also, interacting with Nature gives you the best learning you can ever have.

To learn biology, you need not always tread a forest line or any other natural habitat. It is right in your backyard itself.

Your backyard is indeed a sanctuary where you can learn many things naturally just by mere observation and spending time with Nature. A stroll in the backyard with minute observation, a little task in hand, and a dedicated time would make your learning enhanced.

Some of the best practices to follow in the backyard for school children have been discussed here.

Know These Backyard Ideas for Learning Biology Outside Classroom

Vegetable Garden:

If you enough space in the backyard, allot a specified small plot. Plant a few easy to grow vegetables or flowers. Generally, they are included in the syllabus too as the economic importance of common plants we see around us, or for taxonomy.

The small plants like coriander, mustard, brinjal, tomato, okra, climbers, curry leaves, drumstick, and, etc. can be quickly grown and taken care.

You can help them dissect plant flowers to study parts of it and its growth. The simple phenomena like diffusion, osmosis can be observed in natural premises and several examples.

Instruct them how to plant seeds or seedlings, how to take care of them, use of kitchen waste as organic manure, and use of organic products.

Nurturing Nature:

Help them build a small park in the backyard. You can help them for a rainwater harvest plan and its possibility for implementation. Besides, you can add animals or birds too for the environment, a small pond or water outlet, and thus build a natural ecosystem.

Just to bring colors to the garden, you may build a bench to sit over and observe how Nature talks. A small area to tend on their own brings responsibility, attitude to care for Nature, and to live with Nature. It is a fantastic learning experience you can give to the children.

Plant Identification:

Taxonomy is a part of the syllabus and high school students find it difficult to remember all the plant names, its family name, and binomial nomenclature.

Seeing and observing the plants daily in its natural habitat makes them hard to forget the plant name and its form.

Ask them to look for a fairy ring during rains, its edible and non-edible forms. A note on vermiculture also can be introduced. Ask them to place a name board with plant name, its binomial nomenclature, and one importance.

Game Board:

Apart from learning, spending valuable time with Nature is a good idea to explore. A gameboard on a tree stump would serve the purpose.

You can ask them to etch their gameboard with the help of sidewalk chalk or the permanent paintings. Spending time amidst Nature leisurely helps them to rejuvenate and enthusiastically concentrate on academic learnings.

Chalkboard Fence:

Another exciting plan is to make the backyard as a study place. You can have a chalkboard fence. It facilitates the children to learn by writing on the board in a Natural environment.

The children can have group study efforts too with the help of chalkboard. It helps them to minimize paper wastes. They can prepare themselves with biology diagrams, charts, and solve math problems without wasting papers.

And, as a parent can sit with them and encourage to solve maths, learn diagrams, and make learning more attractive.

Educational Benefits of Learning in the Backyard:

• Connects the students with the academic curriculum back in the classroom.
• Helps to develop inquisitive thinking while solving the problems
• Brings a holistic development of the school children
• Helps them to develop resilience in an adverse circumstance
• Develop appreciation and respect towards Nature
• Provides positive health benefits, both physically and mentally
• Learn the difference between the biotic and abiotic environment
• Facilitates the knowledge of food and health in regular time
• Practice observation and reasoning ability to understand Nature’s complexity

Conclusion:

A small backyard can bring lots of energy, enthusiasm, and learnings to the high school children. Just give a dedicated time each day. Learning Biology outside the classroom is necessary and a fun activity too.

Enhance your science skills such as observation, an inquiry into Nature’s law, and connect science at each level.

Backyard learning forms an essential aspect of learning Biology at every grade level.