Teaching outdoors can be really daunting if you got challenging class or if you are new to outdoor learning.  When I taught challenging classes the environment would often make a difference to their behaviours. I would find working with them outdoors made a huge positive difference. I would suggest that you speak to your class and you set some ground rules for outdoors before you even think about going out.  I tend to have the rule that the outdoors, when we are learning, is our classroom space and the same rules apply indoors as outdoors.  It is a simple as that. But there is a few techniques that can help you.

Grouping.  How I group children, or adults, is really weather dependent.  If it’s wet and windy my voice doesn’t carry us far and children feel the cold when the standing still.  Therefore I would ask children stand as “penguins”, huddled together to keep warm, standing close.  If I wanted them close but not as close I would use “sticky elbows”.  This is when children stand in a circle with their elbow close to their sides but not touching the person beside them.  It gives a nice tight circle.  But fi I wanted to be a little more relaxed I would give them an area to sit on.  This could be a large tarpaulin or designated area outdoors.

My own position is something else which is really important.  Before I position the children I need to think about my own position.   I often found ensuring I was the person facing Sun rather than youngsters from really helped them focus. This may be uncomfortable for me but I can focus through that and they find it much harder, so make sure you are facing the Sun.

It is the same in high winds. If you are the one facing them the children are more likely to focus. 

As I mentioned, teaching space is a big one.  Whilst it is their playground, during teaching time it is your classroom space as a team.  It is such a simple distinction but it can really help.

To bring the children together you need strategies.  I would use one of 2 things, my voice or a whistle.  If it was a whilst I often used ocarina’s or duck whistles as they give a gentler sound.  I would use different patterns to pull children together.  If I need all the children back quickly one long whistle works and if I need them to finish off what they are doing then come over 3 whistles work. Workout what commands you need to give, what instructions you need to give and patterns for them.   If I was using my voice then it would be up to the children to pass the message.  I would often shout 123 and the children would shout “come to me” as they came over. it was really quick and easy technique and they enjoyed telling each other to come over. 

I would also think hard about your first lesson outdoors.  In first lesson you want time and space to give instructions and practice coming together and all these techniques.  I would often use the mandala or art lesson just as a way to practice the to-ing and fro-ing.

I would also say always listen to your gut.  You know your class.  You know your capabilities.  Listen to your gut and do what feels right and it will work.