GRADES 6–10

Your Free Lesson: Build a Lean-To Shelter

Students build an outdoor shelter and explore how it blocks wind and provides shade.

Receive the lesson PDF from the Shelters Teacher’s Manual, including supplies, teaching instructions, assessment and reflection guidance.

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See how the lesson works

Plan for outdoor space, tarps, cordage and suitable supports. Review supplies and safety guidance before teaching.

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Teacher overview & supplies
Shelter-building activity
Assessment & reflection

Explore the Shelters Unit

Build on this lesson with six shelter lessons and a Unit Challenge. Explore the Teacher Manual and Adventure Journal student workbook, available separately as downloadable PDFs.

Explore Shelters
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Shelter-building activity

Teacher Manual page with lean-to construction directions, guiding questions and illustrations of students building tarp shelters.

Teacher overview & supplies

Teacher Manual lesson overview with learning objectives, supplies and outdoor space requirements.

Assessment & reflection

Teacher Manual guidance for checking the lean-to shelter and reflecting on the activity.