Tips
ReadWriteBuild Outside
August 14, 2025
Take your Read, Write, Build activities outdoors! Inspired by the 1000 Hours Outside movement, discover creative ways to learn in the fresh air. From picnic read-alouds to backyard projects, your next family adventure awaits.
We’re big fans of Ginny Yurich’s 1000 Hours Outside Movement. Kids (and adults) will feel better when they spend more time outside in the fresh air. And let’s face it - they will likely also become more active, productive, explorative and overall more healthy when they spend more time in the great outdoors.
Bring it Outside
So, grab your 1000 Hours Outside Trackers and let’s Read, Write and Build al fresco. Have you ever realized that sometimes changing the environment where you do a certain activity will just automatically make it more exciting? Just grab your math book, puzzle or your current read aloud, a few snacks and a picnic blanket and everyone is sure to enjoy the process even more than usual. It could also make the moment more memorable as well.
Out-of-the-Box Building
We also have to remember that “Build” can really cover any STEM project, any physical building, and it can also encompass building (practicing) our your sports game or even building a garden outside. It all counts. My boys LOVE to build unique obstacle courses all over the driveway and down our street that they can use while riding their bikes, roller skates or scooters. They’ll just grab a few orange cones, maybe some sticks, pinecones and sidewalk chalk.
How to Get Started
Here are a few ideas on how you can increase your oxygen intake while completing some RWB activities as a family outside:
Bring it Outside
So, grab your 1000 Hours Outside Trackers and let’s Read, Write and Build al fresco. Have you ever realized that sometimes changing the environment where you do a certain activity will just automatically make it more exciting? Just grab your math book, puzzle or your current read aloud, a few snacks and a picnic blanket and everyone is sure to enjoy the process even more than usual. It could also make the moment more memorable as well.
Out-of-the-Box Building
We also have to remember that “Build” can really cover any STEM project, any physical building, and it can also encompass building (practicing) our your sports game or even building a garden outside. It all counts. My boys LOVE to build unique obstacle courses all over the driveway and down our street that they can use while riding their bikes, roller skates or scooters. They’ll just grab a few orange cones, maybe some sticks, pinecones and sidewalk chalk.
How to Get Started
Here are a few ideas on how you can increase your oxygen intake while completing some RWB activities as a family outside:
- Read aloud picnic
- Writing under your favorite tree
- Building, painting and hanging a birdhouse
- Planting a garden
- Building your sports skills: shooting hoops in the driveway, practicing golf on the course with dad, soccer drills in the backyard
- Building your own RC car and racing it down the street
- Chess outside - my kids like to call it “Fresh Chess”
- Reading in the hammock
- Story Cubes story making with s’mores
- Open up the folding table and grab your favorite Lego set
- Going for a sunset walk, bike ride or golf cart ride around the neighborhood while listening to a audiobook on the Yoto Player
What are your favorite ways to RWB outdoors? Which are you going to try next?
- Writing under your favorite tree
- Building, painting and hanging a birdhouse
- Planting a garden
- Building your sports skills: shooting hoops in the driveway, practicing golf on the course with dad, soccer drills in the backyard
- Building your own RC car and racing it down the street
- Chess outside - my kids like to call it “Fresh Chess”
- Reading in the hammock
- Story Cubes story making with s’mores
- Open up the folding table and grab your favorite Lego set
- Going for a sunset walk, bike ride or golf cart ride around the neighborhood while listening to a audiobook on the Yoto Player
What are your favorite ways to RWB outdoors? Which are you going to try next?