Laura Secord has the coolest classroom

Every day is a snow day for École Laura Secord School students.

Laura Secord teacher Ellen Lamont and her Grades 4 and 5 students built an outdoor classroom next to their school, complete with snow chairs and decorative ice blocks.

The student’s outdoor learning, which includes regular classes like math and social studies, started the first day back after winter break.

“I’m a first-year teacher and I’m still wrapping my head around teaching, which because of COVID-19 means teaching in two different rooms, plus online,” Lamont said.

“After the break, we needed to start three new units, including math. It was just a split-second decision. I said, ‘We’re going outside.’ I put up my easel and it said ‘Good morning everyone. Build yourself a snow chair.’”

Lamont said her students immediately embraced the change of scenery. She said COVID-19 physical distancing measures have resulted in students spending a lot more time sitting at their desks.

“There was so much time where the students were sedentary and I found their attention kind of waned. They weren’t as sharp,” Lamont said.

“Now, when they’re outside, they’re excited and so engaged. And when we go back inside to do Languages, they’re so calm and ready to sit and learn.”

Lamont said she worked at FortWhyte Alive last summer, which opened her up to the benefits of outdoor learning. That interest is shared by David Seburn, an Educational Assistant at Laura Secord, who is helping Lamont to run the outdoor classroom. 

“I think the fresh air and the Vitamin D is just the absolute best thing for their self-esteem and their immune system,” said Seburn, who is currently taking the Forest and Nature School Practitioners Course through the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.

Not only do the students enjoy learning in their outdoor classroom, they’ve had a blast building and decorating it.

“The art they made was all items they collected while on a community walk,” Seburn said. “They brought items back to school and froze them in blocks of ice and added food colouring.”

Seburn said parents and community members have donated trees to the learning space. He said a tree removal company contributed a big stump, which the students use as a chair or work surface.

Grade 5 students Henrik and Kathleen both love learning outdoors.

“Outside, not everything is with a pencil and paper. It’s more active,” Henrik said.

“Out here, there’s fresh air. Lots of us aren’t as cranky as normally because we’re not stuck inside at a desk,” Kathleen said.

The recent stretch of mild weather makes for a comfortable outdoor learning environment, but Lamont said snow class can continue even if it gets colder.

“As long as the kids are getting something out of it, I’m going to keep doing it,” Lamont said.