Understanding the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning in primary schools
As adults, we know that talking a long walk can clear the mind, generate new ideas, help us re-set and feel more grounded. There is something almost otherworldly about being in nature that inspires our mind to think differently - more freely. Nature impacts children in the same way - allowing a sense of mental freedom that the classroom can sometimes lack. Although outdoor learning in primary schools has been around for many years, exposure to nature is still limited for some children. Complementing traditional class-based activities with outdoor learning is an excellent way to supplement and extend core learning.
But first, what exactly is outdoor learning?
According to the British Council for Outdoor Learning: “Outdoor Learning is a broad term that includes discovery, experimentation, learning about and connecting to the natural world, and engaging in environmental and adventure activities.”
Outdoor learning encourages child-led education that can transform skills, knowledge and behaviours through direct interaction with the natural world. By showing children that learning can take place both indoors and outdoors, they understand that learning can happen anywhere, at any time. Engagement with nature and the environment for health and wellbeing leads to lifelong participation, outdoor competence and develops character, strength and positive risk-taking.
Using tools like hammers, mallets and saws, Forest School encourages participants to get dirty and get practical, even if that means they may fall in a puddle of mud. Children take ownership and accountability over tasks, such as building a den from sticks and other found materials. Our tolerance to risk develops when we are young, and having a low risk-threshold affects how fearful we are in uncertain or new scenarios into adulthood. By managing-risk through outdoor activities, children build the confidence to push boundaries. They quickly find out that things usually aren’t as scary as they first thought; thus, they build long-lasting resilience and confidence in their ability to evaluate risk.
While outdoors, educators are present to guide and observe rather than hover and take over, triggering children’s problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Outdoor learning doesn’t need to involve high costs or detailed preparation; merely taking a trip to a nearby playground or patch of grass can be a perfect starting point.
The key benefits of outdoor learning in primary schools
Developing respect and sense of care for the earth.
Forging long-term resilience, confidence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
Building pro-environmental and sustainable behaviours.
Providing a secure and supportive setting to improve social skills and value difference.
Cultivating meaningful relationships that foster respect, tolerance and compassion.
Why do some primary schools struggle to implement outdoor learning?
KS1 & KS2 children care deeply about the environment and want to learn more about the natural world; however, it can be overwhelming for teachers to deliver this alongside the regular curriculum. Bringing the curriculum outside is more straightforward than you think and can also open up many new ways for children to learn core curriculum.
As valuable as it is, the classroom’s structured and rigid nature can prevent children from interacting with their classmates and specific topics in immersive ways. Primary schools based in inner-city and urban environments may struggle to promote outdoor experiences for their students, with lesser access to outdoor space.
The good news is, there is help out there to bring nature to your primary school.
Three ways to incorporate outdoor learning into your school or home
There are many engaging and stimulating outdoor learning activities; here are some of our top ways you can incorporate curriculum topics into the outdoors. These can be implemented at school or in the home.
1. Cloud-gazing storytime
Focus: Creativity, imagination, literacy
Laying in a field, woodland, or the school playground, encourage children to look up at the sky and point out clouds that look like animals, people, objects or nature. This activity encourages children to activate their imaginations and focus their attention on the scene’s detail.
Add a storytelling element by asking the children to invent a short story or a character based on what they see. They can write this down, or draw this afterwards. This fun activity builds literacy and creative skills, as well as exercising attention skills and focus.
2. Categorising found objects
Focus: Analytical thinking, teambuilding
In pairs, ask children to collect around 20 items from the environment around them. Then, ask children to sort the things by similarities, by any means they like.
For example, if children have collected sticks, leaves and berries, they could sort them according to size, colour, or texture. This activity encourages children to use their analytical and teamwork skills.
Another version of this activity is to collect rubbish from a designated area, using gloves. Sort the waste in the same methods as above, or by its decomposition rate to teach children how long materials decompose.
3. Take a barefoot safari
Focus: Health & wellbeing, physical awareness, sparks curiosity
Famous in Germany for their therapeutic properties, barefoot walks are a wonderfully tactile activity. As well as feeling pleasant underfoot, this activity promotes curiosity for new experiences.
This activity can be started anywhere with lots of surfaces to walk on, or you can lay down a path with sand, pebbles, mud, grass and gravel; providing plenty of textures and surfaces for young feet to explore. As children walk over the trail, ask them to describe what they are feeling. Is it sticky? Smooth? Pleasant? Unpleasant? This exercise builds physical awareness, trust and resilience; encouraging children to invite unfamiliar sensations with positivity instead of fear.
How to implement outdoor learning in your primary school
Whether you’re a parent or teacher, there are so many lesson plans and activities available online that it can seem overwhelming, and hard to know where to begin. At ECOactive, we’re ready to help you understand what’s out there to give your child new life skills and experiences in a supportive and nurturing environment. The impact of outdoor learning in a primary school setting is proven to have positive learning outcomes, helping teachers break up the classroom's monotony and inspire creativity, resilience and confidence in children.
Our passion is bringing outdoor education to life through a range of child-led, interactive classes. We offer our popular Forest School where children can build dens, fires and explore their natural environment and a range of sustainability sessions.
Contact us today for a friendly chat about helping bring outdoor learning to your primary school. We’d love to hear from you and help you get more ECOactive.
