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Blog Outdoor STEM

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Outdoor STEM: Turning Yards, Playgrounds, and Parks into Learning Spaces

Kids playing an outdoor game involving hula hoops

I used to dabble in outdoor STEM. They were usually teachable moments that sprang up in the middle of a lesson. In this blog, read about how my thinking about Outdoor STEM has changed through the years. Outdoor STEM went from being an escape from the classroom to a useful learning opportunity.

Seeing What is Already There

1.  Seeing What’s Already There: Rethinking Outdoor Learning Through Observation

Young boy takes aim, while playing an outdoor game.

Outdoor learning often starts as a break from routine, but it can become something more. This article explores how observation turns simple moments into meaningful STEM learning.

Related Download:  Back to Basics Outdoor STEM

Shows contents of Outdoor STEM download.
Shows contents of Outdoor STEM download.

You don’t need special equipment to get started. This quick guide shows how nature, movement, and simple materials can create powerful STEM experiences.

Back to Basics Outdoor STEM
The Role of Organization in Outdoor STEM

2.  The Role of Organization in Outdoor STEM

Young boy plays with Building Brick in an outdoor setting.

Outdoor STEM doesn’t have to feel chaotic. This article looks at simple ways to organize materials and space while still allowing for open-ended exploration.

Planning for Outdoor STEM

3.  Planning for Outdoor STEM

Examples of outdoor storage systems.

Getting started can be as simple as thinking through time, space, and materials. This article helps you plan outdoor STEM experiences that fit your setting.

Related Download:  Outdoor STEM Planning Form

Shows contents of Outdoor STEM Planning Form download.

Use this form to map out your outdoor STEM setup in a clear and simple way. It works alongside the planning article to help guide your decisions.

Outdoor STEM Planning Form
When Play Becomes Thinking

4.  When Play Becomes Thinking

Outdoor STEM may not always look structured, but the thinking is there. This article highlights how problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity naturally develop through play.

Kids build a contraption using random STEM materials.

Related Download:  Outdoor STEM Exploration Recording Sheet

Give students a simple way to track what they notice, test, and create. This sheet supports reflection without interrupting the flow of exploration.

Shows contents of Outdoor STEM Recording Sheet download.

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Related Download:  Try This Outside (Challenge Pages)

Looking for a place to start? These simple challenges use everyday materials to spark creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on STEM thinking.

Shows contents of Outdoor STEM Challenge Pages download.

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Outdoor STEM Exploration Recording Sheet
Try This Outside (Challenge Pages)
Top 10 "Build Big" Ideas

 Top 10 “Build Big” Ideas (Back to Basics Style)

Visual showing examples of outdoor STEM activities.

Big ideas don’t require big materials. These simple ways to build big can turn everyday items and open space into engaging STEM experiences.

🔹 1. Create giant games on the ground     (Tic-tac-toe, hopscotch, or grids using chalk, tape, or sticks.)

 

🔹 2. Build pathways across space      (Use paper, cardboard, boards, or objects to design routes to follow.)

 

🔹 3. Turn buckets and hoops into targets     (Create tossing, aiming, or scoring games using simple items.)

 

🔹 4. Design obstacle courses with everyday materials      (Use cones, ropes, boxes, or anything available to create movement challenges.)

 

🔹 5. Build large structures with boxes or crates      (Stack, connect, and redesign to create forts, towers, or “giant builds.”)

 

🔹 6. Create a life-sized marble run      (Use tubes, ramps, or recycled materials along walls, fences, or stairs.)

 

🔹 7. Stack and test with simple objects      (Use cups, containers, or found items to build tall, stable structures.)

🔹 8. Redesign familiar games at a larger scale      (Change the size, layout, or rules of a game students already know.)

 

🔹 9. Use space to create “zones”      (Build areas for jumping, building, testing, or problem-solving.)

 

🔹 10. Combine materials to invent something new      (Mix boxes, tubes, buckets, and loose parts to create original designs.)

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