International School Grounds Month Activity Guide
Provided by: Green Schoolyards America|Published on: March 29, 2023|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: K-12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Social Studies, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, English Language Arts
Authors: Green Schoolyards America
Location: Earth, North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > Wisconsin
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This outdoor activity guide contains activities for students in grades K through 12 that demonstrate how school grounds can be used for meaningful and fun activities across curricula.
- This resource includes easy-to-implement activities for hands-on learning that will impact students, provide access to nature, and improve school grounds.
- The Index at the back, starting on page 170, provides a list of contributing organizations and lists of activities by organization.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource details the importance of the green school grounds movement, which stresses in the importance of utilizing school grounds for learning and as community spaces.
- Each activity is easy to implement and includes age-appropriate activities, directions, and materials for many subjects.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers should begin by reading the introductory information, which provides rationales for the movement, the importance of the guide, and other vital background information.
- A list of activities by age group, organization, subject, or country of origin is provided in the Index, starting on page 176.
- This can compliment the Living Schoolyard Activity Guide, which includes even more outdoor activities.
Differentiation
- May is the month that the International School Grounds Alliance calls on schools to utilize their grounds for learning, so use one or more of these activities throughout the month of May and throughout the year.
- Use the Contents on page 5 to sort the activities by subject, which includes art, play, health, social & emotional learning, agriculture and food, play based understanding, wildlife & habitat, watershed stewardship, energy & climate, thoughtful use of materials, and community engagement.
- The index on page 176 sorts the activities by keyword, which may be helpful if you want to include an activity that fits into a specific lesson or unit.
- Use the "Share Your Celebration!" information included on page 7 in order to promote the movement and increase involvement.
In preparation to mark the International School Ground Month, this guide compiles over 100 activities for students to engage in on their school grounds to become environmental stewards and to lead in the environmental and climate movement. The activities are well-curated and enriched with content that will spur students' interest in building practical climate solutions in their communities. This guide is accurate, with a high level of confidence and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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