Outdoor Classroom Activities
Listed below are Outdoor Classroom activities
that are currently used at Thomas Jefferson
Elementary School.

These activities were developed by parent
volunteers at TJ, many of them modeled after
similar activities from other schools and
sources. In all cases, the activities were
adapted to TJ's schoolyard resources as well
as to the Virginia SOLs and TJ curriculum.
SECOND GRADE
Weather and Wind Observations (Fall)
2nd grade Science -  2.1 (Scientific Investigation),
2.6 (Earth/Space Systems -- Weather)

Area and Perimeter Lesson (Spring)
2nd grade Math 2.12 (perimeter), 2.13 (area)

Native American Day
Three Sisters Native American Garden
2nd grade Science - 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8,
2nd grade History and Social Sciences - 2.2, 2.9
3rd grade Science - 3.7, 3.8, 3.9


THIRD GRADE
Solar Energy: Do Size and Color Matter? (Fall)
3rd Science - 3.1, 3.11
3rd Math - 3.17
Also -- there is a coloring sheet to go with this activity.


Simple Machines: Pulleys (Winter)
Science 3.1a (predictions and observations)
Science 3.1j (inferences and conclusions)
Science 3.2a (types of simple machines – pulleys)
Science 3.2b (how simple machines function)
Science 3.2d (examples of simple machines)
Math 3.14a (measurements)


Pumpkin Planting / Life Cycle (Spring)
Science - Living Systems:
3.7a. soil
3.7c. rock, clay, silt, sand, and humus
3.7d. soil as a natural resource

Science – Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change:
3.8b. animal and plant life cycles
3.9c. water essential for living things



FOURTH GRADE
Wetlands and Migration (Fall)
4th grade Science 4.5 (living systems),
4.8 (resources)
Also -- there are maps and photos

Ferns and Flowers (Spring)
4th grade Scicence 4.4 (life processes - structures of plants
and plant reproduction), 4.5 (living systems - plant
adaptations,
life cycles, communities)

Colonial Gardening and Monticello Garden
Science 4.4 (Life Processes – plant structure & processes)
VS.4 (Virginia Studies – Life in the Virginia Colony)
Parent Volunteer Instructions
Teacher-Led Colonial Gardening Lesson
Garden Journal and Plant Descriptions