Fresh Air, Fresh Minds at Thales Academy

Some of the ways our Thales Academy at Flowers Plantation campus offers opportunities for getting fresh air outside (as weather & class content allow) include:

• Nature walks (Pre-K) and other outdoor walks with specialist teachers (K–5)
• Reading sessions held outside (1–5)
• Outdoor PE classes (Pre-K–5)
• Class conducted at picnic tables or on the front lawn (junior high & high school)
• Outside student group work time (junior high & high school)
• Historical outdoor games to match the time periods being taught in history(junior high & high school)

One of our colleagues—Ashley Bahor, Head of School at Thales Academy Rolesville (one of our sister campuses to the northwest)—wrote a recent article about the importance of fresh air for fresh minds for our students, which we share below:

We’ve all felt the instant reward of venturing outside and getting that first whiff of fresh air and sunlight after spending a long stretch of time indoors. Research has shown that exposure to the outdoors on a daily basis improves our mood and productivity and enhances our overall health. The great outdoors also provides us with a source of wonder and inspiration as we take in our surroundings.

This year at Thales Academy Rolesville, we set a goal to create more opportunities for students to get outside during the school day to enhance their overall well-being. At the beginning of the year, our leadership team talked with the faculty about how to incorporate regular exposure to the outdoors during the school year by providing purposeful lessons and activities outside, even if it’s only for small chunks of time. Our teachers were keen to work together and think about how students could get outside without losing academic time.

Research has established that exposure to nature can improve focus and reduce stress levels, allowing students to learn better. In the beginning of the year, our school counselor started a lunch club named “Picnic N’ Play” where students could sign up and go outside with her to participate in group activities during lunchtime. This group was inspired after reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, which argues that students should have less screen time and more play time to develop appropriately. The first week she introduced the opportunity, over 100 students volunteered to be a part of it. With that type of reaction, we knew immediately this lunch effort was something that we needed to continue to offer and include. From there, our junior high homeroom teachers created a schedule for students to go outside one time a week with their grade level at lunch. This valuable time also gives way to greater social and emotional development since students have time to connect with their classmates. It is a fast and simple reboot so that the students can go to their afternoon classes with a clearer, focused mind.

Outdoor activities help students develop healthy lifestyle routines, and our PE classes provide a wonderful opportunity to get students outside on a regular basis. Our PE faculty promptly set up units that utilize the outdoors and the gym. Students regularly run, circuit train, and play group games on the outside fields and parking lots. You can sense when you see the smiles on the faces of the students and teachers as they descend to the field or our outdoor classroom for an intermission from the school building that this time is precious and worth it.

We believe that by placing an emphasis on outdoor learning that we will be able to improve our students’ educational experience and prepare them for a healthier, more well-rounded future.

By Caitlin Moody, Pre-K–5 Head of School, and Brittney Massey, JH/HS Head of School, Thales Academy at Flowers Plantation