At BCCS, just south of central Byron Center, nestled between quiet residential neighborhoods, there lies a hidden treasure—a sprawling outdoor space that is beginning to serve as an extension of our classrooms. While our school buildings provide great spaces for learning, it’s the expansive acreage behind them that has the potential to be an invaluable resource for both teachers and students. With the Teaching for Transformation framework guiding the work, our teachers are reimagining their lessons to give students opportunities to apply their learning in real-world settings. And what better place to do that than outside in God’s creation?
This year, one preschool class has fully embraced the outdoors, with children spending the majority of each day exploring, learning, and growing in the fresh air. Garden beds have taken root at both our buildings, and an outdoor classroom has become a hub for hands-on learning experiences, such as plant identification in sixth-grade science. Third grade also worked to discover interactions between physical and natural characteristics found outdoors.
Recently, first grade took full advantage of the winter weather, using the snow as a springboard for creativity and learning in order to better engage with the book Snowman in the Night. As part of their study, they learned about the purpose of an author and practiced sequencing words like "first," "next," and "then." To bring these concepts to life, the students ventured outside and built their own snowmen. This activity allowed them to think creatively about their snowmen’s behaviors—what would their snowmen eat, and what would they do when no one was watching? They also practiced spelling the sequencing words out in the snowy woods.
Once back inside the classroom, students eagerly wrote about their snowmen, using their experiences to create detailed and thoughtful stories. Teachers were impressed at the depth of the writing—an unexpected outcome that illustrated just how powerful learning in context can be. The students’ increased engagement and enthusiasm were clear, as they applied their experience in meaningful ways and honed their sequencing and writing skills.
This simple (and fun) activity is a perfect example of how our teachers are reframing lessons to make learning come alive. Through this hands-on approach, students not only gain academic knowledge but also develop a deeper connection to the world around them, fostering a love of learning. With great teachers and an effective Teaching for Transformation framework, we are working to make BCCS a great place to learn!
