3 Steps to DIY Signs that will Transform Your Outdoor Classroom
Have you ever walked through an outdoor space filled with signage? If so, did you feel like someone was guiding you through a garden and sharing all it’s special places? Did your garden walk include a garden story? Signs not only create “literacy-rich” environments, but they also can transform any outdoor space into an Outdoor Classroom. What type of signs can you add to your outdoor space?
At Outdoor-Classrooms.com our community meets up weekly for Friday Facebook LIVE (10:00 EST) I share one card from my Seeds of Inspiration for Learning Card Deck which inspires a weekly garden project. The intention is to hold a space for accountability and a quick check-in with our community. This week we talked about DIY SIGNS.
Garden Signs can provide an abundance of outdoor activity ideas. With a little imagination and ingenuity, making your own-one-of-a-kind signs for your Outdoor Classroom can be easy, fun and affordable. Remember, start before you’re ready and take a few action steps a day. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
STEP #1: Brainstorm the words that you want to have within our Outdoor Classroom.
Invite children to brainstorm with you. Remember, there are no wrong answers here. If children enjoy words like “peace” or ” happy”, include them.
STEP #2: List all your Outdoor Learning Stations and make a sign for each station.
Do you have a Mud Kitchen, Water Wall or Miniature Garden? Make a playful sign for each Learning Station. Your signs will begin to tell your Outdoor Classroom story.
STEP #3: Consider streamlining colors of signs.
Signs can be all different colors, shapes and sizes. That’s the beauty. The more you can get the children involved in making the signs, the better. Signs designed and made by children is the essence of a Children’s Garden.
ISTEP #4: Play with different materials for signs
Words for signs can be painted on a variety of materials. Consider…
- Rocks
- Woodblocks
- Letters that spell a word
- …and so many more
STEP 5: Now I want to hear from you. Share your DIY signs with our community.
DO THIS: Join the Outdoor-Classrooms Facebook group today and share your sign ideas and pictures.
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Want to dig deeper? Check out the Let’s Grow Literacy Outdoors Master Class
