Solo Walk (continued)


• What was your favorite card? What cards would you include?


• What advice would you give other students for their solo walk experience?


• What are two things you learned and can use in daily life? Use a mix of questioning strategies to draw out student


reflection, and be clear about discussion norms to ensure emotional safety during a group debrief. Using the solo walk cards again for debrief is an to provoke


discussion. Solo walk cards can be


placed in a pile on the


ground, students can then pick their favorite card and share with the group why this card was chosen. Similarly, cards with a variety of emotions written on them may be used to promote a deeper discussion about feelings.


Table 1. The solo walk implementation guide Goal


Objective


The debrief activities are an excellent opportunity for both teachers and students to assess student experience, knowledge and insight resulting from a solo walk. This information can be used to guide future learning activities and goal setting.


Teaching applications Solo walks as a tool


For teachers, a solo walk is a versatile tool that can be planned to meet a variety of learning objectives. How you frame the activity, when you conduct it, what cards you choose, the order in which they appear on the trail, and the debrief strategy are all opportunities to guide students towards a specific goal or outcome. For example, a solo walk can be used:


effective way group


• In the beginning of a week to introduce students to and help them connect with a new setting


• To ground a group of individuals with mindful awareness and space for reflection


• At the end of a week so students can reflect on all that they have accomplished and how they might transfer these skills to their daily lives


• Before


To practice reflection, critical thinking, introspective thought, and scientific observation skills.


Students will be able to: · Journal in a reflective manner · Complete a solo walk in an isolated area · Participate in group discussion in a meaningful way


Audience Duration Location Age group: any age Number of individuals: 10-15


How long is the lesson? 60 minutes How long will it take to follow up the field experience? 10-20 minutes for debrief


An appropriate trail route and length based on the group’s abilities and needs. Check location ahead of time to identify potential risks. Alternative options include: school hallways, or any green space that provides opportunity for solitude.


Management and safety


Students are supervised at beginning and end of trail. Trail is appropriate in level of difficulty and complexity. Junctions are marked with clear directional signs. Emotional safety is addressed by partner walking or pairing a child with an adult.


Equipment


· Prompt cards (25-50) · Activity for before and after solo walk · Writing utensils · Student journals


Page 34


and/or after a team building activity


Solo Science In science education settings,


students are often bombarded with new techniques and terminology. Solo walks provide the solitude necessary for students to ponder, dissect, and make sense of complex concepts in a tangible way. Because solo walks are inherently independent, students can use scientific tools without any external influence, and think critically of the world around them without fear of failure. Instructors may choose an investigative topic to center the solo walk around or design a mini independent investigation to be conducted during the solo walk. For example, an investigative topic may be plant and animal adaptations. The pictures below are examples of how we have woven scientific practice into the solo walk experience.


Connecting to classroom and beyond


Solo walks offer an incredible opportunity for students to develop awareness and practice active reflection that is an essential and valuable tool in lifelong learning. It can be a transformative experience and its adaptability make it a valuable tool for teachers. Give your students ownership over their experience by having them create their own solo walk cards. Cards can be written in any language, made of recycled material, cut into shapes, etc. Get creative and make it work for you and your students!


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CLEARING Spring 2018


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