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Red Hill Outdoor Learning

At Red Hill Elementary School, great instruction happens everywhere, including outdoors. Learning outdoors promotes physical activity, environmental stewardship, social skills, and academic growth. Our teachers work hard to design experiences aligned with state standards and have partnered with organizations like Project Wild and Wildrock to ensure research-based and creative experiences for all of our learners. Here are some great examples of outdoor learning at Red Hill.

Outdoor Learning at Red Hill Elementary 2024-2025

Kindergarten

Kindergarten gardeners planted, cared for, and harvested a variety of edible plants, including Éclair and Chandler strawberries, broccoli, carrots, purple cauliflower, and lettuces.  They also planted a big patch of milkweed in one of their square beds to attract Monarch butterflies.  Kindergarten also participated in outdoor imaginative play, building with the large outdoor building blocks, exploring the animals in our outdoor space, and taking a story walk in the tree hall.  Students also took a nature walk to Mr. Powell's farm next door to the school, and they visited the habitat of the south fork of the Hardware River which runs through his property. Our newest addition to outdoor learning is our beautiful new water table feature!

A vibrant display of fresh, colorful vegetables including carrots, green beans, and a striking purple cauliflower, all arranged in a red crate against a natural background.
A lush, green garden bed filled with various plants and foliage, set against the backdrop of a modern building with large windows.
A group of children are gathered around a raised garden bed, examining the plants and engaging in what appears to be an educational or gardening activity in an outdoor setting with a brick wall backdrop.
A wooden outdoor furniture set, including a bench, coffee table, and side table, is placed on a grassy area in front of a brick wall.
A group of children are playing and building a wooden structure in a lush, forested outdoor setting.
A vibrant garden with various plants and vegetables growing in raised metal planters, set against a brick wall backdrop with a red door and wooden benches.
A group of children playing on wooden stumps and structures in a grassy outdoor area, with a school building visible in the background.
A group of young children are gathered around a wooden platform, examining and interacting with something on a large plate in front of them, while a grassy yard and a wooden structure can be seen in the background.
A group of young children playing with wooden blocks and toys in a grassy outdoor area surrounded by trees.
A group of children exploring and interacting with a large wooden structure in a grassy outdoor setting surrounded by trees.
A group of children playing and building a fort-like structure using wooden crates and sticks in a grassy, tree-lined outdoor setting.
A group of young children playing together in a grassy outdoor area, with a wooden toy wagon in the foreground.
A group of people, including children, are gathered around a small orange vehicle in a grassy, wooded area with tall pine trees in the background.
Children playing with chalk on the sidewalk in a park, with a playground visible in the background.
A playground with swings and children playing in a lush, green outdoor setting.
A group of children exploring and observing the natural environment, surrounded by lush greenery and trees in the background.
A playground with swings and a family enjoying the outdoor setting on a sunny day.
A group of children, ranging in age and gender, are gathered in a lush, wooded area, sitting on a dirt path surrounded by greenery and sunlight.
The image shows a group of children playing in a grassy outdoor area surrounded by trees and buildings.
A group of children sitting in wooden boxes in a grassy outdoor area surrounded by trees.
A group of young children, both boys and girls, are gathered around a raised garden bed, engaged in what appears to be a gardening or outdoor activity, with a brick building visible in the background.
The image shows two young children playing in a wooden box on a grassy field, with a tree and a building visible in the background.
Two young boys are playing on the ground in a wooded area, surrounded by fallen leaves and a wooden structure in the background.
A bird's nest nestled among the tangled branches and dried foliage, with a small, partially visible bird inside.
The image shows a group of children playing in a grassy outdoor area, with a red building and other structures visible in the background.
A group of people, including children, are walking along a dirt path through a grassy field surrounded by lush greenery and trees in the background.
A group of people, mostly children, are walking along a dirt path through a lush, green forest with a small stream running alongside.
A young boy stands in a grassy field, with a small tractor visible in the background.

First Grade

First graders were hard at work in our outdoor learning garden! They planted radishes, lettuce, and green onions; and have loved checking on their growth each week. We also created a calming sensory garden filled with succulents, where students can explore different textures and take a peaceful break during the day. It’s been a hands-on learning experience we’re proud to grow together!  Families also joined the first grade classes to enjoy a picnic in our beautiful outdoor space at the end of the school year.

A woman in a floral blouse is standing in a grassy field, with a young girl sitting nearby and a tractor in the background, against a backdrop of bare trees and a clear blue sky.
A group of young children are gathered around an adult, who appears to be a teacher or caretaker, as they work together in a garden or outdoor learning environment with a raised planter bed and various gardening tools.
A group of children are engaged in gardening activities, planting seedlings in a raised garden bed surrounded by trees and a school bus in the background.
A group of children are engaged in an outdoor activity, sitting at a table and playing with colorful toys and objects on the grass.
The image shows several radishes growing in the soil, surrounded by lush green leaves and stems. The background appears to be a garden or planting bed with a mix of soil and organic matter.
A group of children gathered around a raised garden bed, examining the soil and plants as an adult supervises their activity in a grassy outdoor setting.
The image shows lush, vibrant green lettuce leaves in the foreground, with a dark, earthy background.
The image shows a garden bed with various green leafy vegetables, including lettuce, growing in the foreground, with a green garden tool or marker visible among the plants.
The image shows a group of children engaged in gardening activities, with one child in the foreground tending to a plant while others observe in the background.
The image shows a garden bed filled with lush, green lettuce plants, with a small green label in the foreground indicating the variety of lettuce, %22Lettuce%22. In the background, a white building with windows can be seen.
A young boy in a blue t-shirt stands in a garden, examining a plant with a smile on his face, with a shed and other outdoor structures visible in the background.
The image shows a person's hands holding a large, vibrant pink radish amidst a lush, green garden setting with various leafy greens and other vegetation in the background.
A group of children in colorful clothing are gathered around a garden, examining the plants and vegetables growing in the raised beds.
The image shows two young boys standing at a table, observing an adult's hands as they work on a project involving various objects on the table.

Second Grade

This spring, second graders planted a native plant garden to help support pollinators in our community. The students enjoyed watching the garden grow and learning about how native plants provide food and shelter for butterflies, bees, and other wildlife. You can see photos of the garden and the progress it has made.
In addition to our pollinator studies, we've been bird watching and feeding birds throughout the school year. In May, we launched our Bird Watching Journals, encouraging students to observe, record, and learn more about local bird species.

The image presents information about various North American bird species, with photographs and descriptions of their characteristics and behaviors.
The image shows a detailed bird journal entry, including a hand-drawn sketch of a cardinal bird, its description, and a map of the location where it was observed.
The image shows a colorful cover page of a bird watching journal, with the title %22My Bird Watching Journal%22 and a small illustration of a blue bird.
The image shows a well-maintained community garden with raised garden beds, lush vegetation, and a small building in the background.
The image shows a framed artwork depicting various flowers and bees, with a building and greenery visible in the background.
A colorful display of handmade paper ghosts and bees with written messages attached to a black background, surrounded by various decorative elements.
The image depicts a display board with various photographs of colorful birds, including a cardinal, blue jays, and other species, arranged in a grid-like pattern. The display appears to be in an educational or informational setting, with the background suggesting a classroom or similar indoor environment.
The image shows a large window on the side of a building, reflecting the outdoor scenery of a grassy area with trees and a picnic table in the background.

Third Grade

Third graders started with planting flowers earlier in the spring, with the plan to harvest seeds in the fall to plant next spring. Our big project was a soil experiment, where students had to plant seeds in 2 types of soil (one was topsoil, the other was a choice between clay, sand, or silt). Over 3-4 weeks, students measured, observed, and cared for their plants. Finally, each student write a letter to Mrs. McCullen offering a recommendation about which soil would be best for our gardens so that they produce healthy plants. Last week, students dug up volunteer tomato plants to share and worked together to mulch around trees planted earlier in the year.

Two young girls are digging in a garden plot, surrounded by lush green grass.
A group of people, including a woman in a white shirt and a young girl in a pink hoodie, are engaged in gardening activities in a lush, green outdoor setting.
A collage of various photographs arranged on a yellow and green background, with a handwritten message in the center.
The image shows three young girls in a garden, examining the plants and vegetables growing in a raised garden bed surrounded by lush greenery.
A raised garden bed filled with a lush, thriving assortment of green leafy plants and vegetables, surrounded by a grassy backyard area.
A group of people, including two women and a child, are engaged in gardening activities in a wooded area with lush greenery surrounding them.
Three children, a boy and two girls, are working together to clear a path through the lush, green forest.
A hand is holding a small black bird, likely a baby bird, in a shallow container filled with soil or dirt.
A group of children are engaged in outdoor activities, digging in the soil surrounded by a lush, forested environment.
A young person in an orange and blue shirt is planting a seedling in a garden bed surrounded by a grassy area with trees in the background.

Fourth Grade

Fourth graders established a Three Sisters Garden, where students actively participated in planting, tending, and (in the fall) will harvest crops. Rooted in Indigenous agricultural traditions, the Three Sisters Garden consists of corn, beans, and squash—plants that support one another’s growth in a sustainable ecosystem. This hands-on project provided students with meaningful, cross-curricular learning experiences that integrated science, social studies, and literacy. Through their work in the garden, students deepened their understanding of plant life cycles, symbiotic relationships and the wisdom of Indigenous farming practices. Additionally, the garden fostered collaboration, responsibility, and environmental stewardship as students cared for the plants and observed the interconnectedness of nature.

A group of children are engaged in gardening activities, planting and tending to plants in a grassy outdoor area surrounded by trees.
Two young boys are standing in a grassy outdoor area, holding a bucket and other gardening tools. In the background, there is a parked car and trees with spring foliage.
A group of young people, both boys and girls, are gathered in a wooded area, engaged in an outdoor activity or task, with buckets and other equipment visible in the foreground.
The image shows a group of three people, two children and one adult, sitting on a wagon in a grassy, wooded area with trees in the background.
A group of people, wearing red and blue clothing, are engaged in gardening activities in a grassy outdoor setting, with various gardening tools and equipment visible in the background.
Three young girls in casual clothing are playing and posing outdoors in a grassy area surrounded by trees.
A group of people, including adults and children, are gathered in a grassy outdoor area, engaged in what appears to be a gardening or planting activity, with various gardening tools and containers visible in the foreground.
A group of people, mostly young, are gathered in a wooded area, engaged in what appears to be an outdoor activity or exploration.

Fifth Grade

Fifth graders conducted a bluebird research project. They made and posted two bluebird boxes.  David Burt, Leighton Page, and Laurie McCullough from the Cove Garden Ruritans, and Eileen Merritt, helped students learn about insect finding and nest making.  Students also learned about energy conservation by making Sun Ovens to make s'mores.

A person in a red shirt is working on constructing a wooden structure in an outdoor setting with a building visible in the background.
A group of children and adults gathered around a wooden stump, engaged in an outdoor activity, with colorful buildings and a grassy area visible in the background.
A young person in a red t-shirt and camouflage hat is using a power tool to work on a wooden structure in a grassy outdoor setting with a building visible in the background.
Three young boys standing together in a grassy outdoor area with a wooden structure visible in the background.
A group of young people, both boys and girls, standing in front of a brick building and holding various items, including bags and boxes, on a wooden bench in the foreground.
Two young women are sitting on the ground in a forested area, examining something in a container they have placed on the grass.
Two young children are standing next to a large tree in a grassy, wooded area. They appear to be engaged in some kind of activity or exploration.
A young child with blond hair is intently examining a transparent container holding a small creature, with a forested background visible behind them.
A man in casual clothing is helping a young boy install a birdhouse on a tree in an outdoor setting with other people in the background.
A group of people, including a pregnant woman, are working together to build or repair something in an outdoor setting with trees and greenery in the background.
A man in a gray shirt and cap stands in front of a wooden birdhouse, gesturing towards it in a wooded area with lush greenery in the background.
A group of people, likely children, are engaged in an outdoor activity, such as gardening or planting, with various tools and materials visible in the foreground, while a building with a red facade can be seen in the background.
A group of people, including an older man and a young girl, are working together to build or repair something in an outdoor setting with greenery and other people in the background.
A group of people, including children, are working together to build something on a grassy area surrounded by trees and a car in the background.
A group of people, mostly young, standing together in a grassy field with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A group of people, including a person wearing glasses, are gathered around a wooden post in a lush, green outdoor setting with trees and vegetation in the background.
The image shows a group of young people examining a tree stump in a grassy outdoor setting.
The image displays a collage of photographs showcasing a group called %22Bluebirds%22, with various individuals captured in different settings and activities.
A young girl with curly hair is intently focused on using a tool to work on a wooden structure in an outdoor setting with other people and objects visible in the background.