This post contains affiliate links.
Is anyone else totally inspired by nature? I love incorporating SEL with natural and outdoor activities to get kids outside and exploring nature! Outdoor SEL activities might seem intimidating, but they do NOT have to be. Here are 4 simple outdoor SEL activities that you can try right away with your students, and introduce to their home life, too!
Sidewalk chalk
There is SO much you can accomplish with a set of sidewalk chalk! Kids love creating positive affirmation surprises for people in high traffic places. Writing positive, affirming messages for passerbys is a great way to cultivate empathy in the artists, and to practice generating those positive statements. You can also use sidewalk chalk to trace a partner and then fill the outline with identity words to describe the person! This is one of those fun outdoor SEL activities for self awareness support.
Students can use these affirmations as a connection activity, and as inspiration for their messages!
Scavenger hunt
Create a checklist of items for kids to search for! This gives them the opportunity to practice slowing down, focusing, and working together. Your scavenger hunt can have a theme (animals, flower varieties, birds, outdoor structures, etc.) or could just be things you know they’ll see in your area.
Mindful walk
Mindfulness is so powerful, but can sometimes be hard for kids to relate to. You can start introducing this with some really fun books, and then move forward with a mindful walk! Mindful walks are easily my favorite outdoor SEL activities! Students are directed to tune into the outdoor sounds, sights, and smells. After a mindful walk, having a debrief where students discuss what they saw, heard, smelled, felt (etc.) is really powerful! This also gives students the experience of mindful walking so they can more readily use this as a calming and relaxation activity on their own.
Painting/drawing
Creating art that is inspired by nature is such a great outdoor activity. The act of taking inspiration and immediately using it can be very powerful for children. Kids can choose what art they’d like to create. They can take in scenes around them to create art based on what they see and experience. Two inspirational and engaging picture books for drawing and creating art in nature are Drawing Outdoors by Jairo Buitrago and Nature is an Artist by Jennifer Lavallee.
These are great ways to relax and reset after a busy classroom activity. Then you can share in your weekly newsletter! Caregivers can prompt kids to try these activities on weekends and school breaks, knowing that they have been exposed to these activities at school. This is an awesome way to bridge the gap between home and school with SEL.
