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First-grade bilingual teacher Luz Rivera starts with a clear learning goal. She also leaves room for the questions she didn’t expect.

Luz Rivera doesn’t use the outdoor classroom only when the lesson is about plants.

Her first graders do plant, compost, and harvest. But they also read outside. They measure wind speed with an anemometer, gather data, make observations, and calculate how different parts of the space might be used.

For Rivera, an Out Teach alumna and first-grade bilingual teacher at Richard Lagow Elementary School, the value is in giving students something real to work with.

“When students learn in real-world contexts, it becomes easier for them to make connections,” she said. “It makes sense to them.”

The change in environment can help, too.

“The outdoor classroom helps students focus and better prepare for learning,” Rivera said. “Sometimes that change is exactly what students need to perform at their best.”

Rivera plans with a clear learning goal. She knows her students, so she can usually anticipate some of the questions they’ll ask.

But questions still come up that take the lesson somewhere she didn’t expect.

When that happens, Rivera asks the student to explain what they’re thinking. She follows with questions of her own. If there’s a misconception, they work through it. Often, the conversation finds its way back to the original lesson—but the students have had to think their way there.

“For me, these are ‘magical moments’ that should be seized,” she said.

The learning goal still matters. Rivera just doesn’t assume there’s only one way to reach it.

Learning outside requires some structure. Rivera makes that clear from the beginning.

Her “golden—or green—rule” is simple: the playground is for playing. The outdoor classroom is for exploring, investigating, learning, working, and enjoying.

Students have space to move, notice things, and ask questions. They also know they’re responsible for how they use and care for the space.

“Just as we take care of our indoor classroom, you must care for and respect your outdoor classroom,” Rivera tells them. “Everything there serves a purpose and is there for your well-being and that of your classmates.”

Field Notes brings teachers and district leaders practical ideas for real-world learning, stories from fellow educators, new findings, and funding opportunities.