Rethinking Curriculum: Nature-based and outdoor learning toolkit
This article has been published as part of the Rethinking Curriculum project, kindly funded by The Helen Hamlyn Trust.
What is outdoor learning?
Academic learning can be made experiential and practical by taking curriculum learning outdoors (Mann et al., 2022a). While learning outside the classroom can include built-environment locations (such as museums or city streets), the value of learning in natural outdoor settings is more frequently championed (Waite, 2022). A variety of terms may be used to describe such learning, including outdoor learning, education outside the classroom, school-based outdoor learning, real-world learning, nature-based learning (Jucker and von Au, 2022) and nature-specific learning outside the classroom (NSLOtC) (Mann et al., 2022b). These terms often refer to learning that occurs as part of interdisciplinary programmes embedded in the curriculum, or learning linked to specific curriculum subjects.
Teachers have reported positive impacts of teaching outdoors on their teaching practice, job satisfaction, health and wellbeing (Marchant et al., 2019; Rickinson et al., 2004; Waite and Malone, 2016). Furthermore, research suggests that outdoor learning can have a wide range of benefits for students. For example, Miller et al.’s (2021) systematic review of the impact of nature-based learning on primary school children demonstrated positive effects on physical activity, educational outcomes, mental health and wellbeing, engagement, and social outcomes.
See more: Taking curriculum learning outdoors
References
Jucker R and von Au J (2022) Outdoor learning – why it should be high up on the agenda of every educator. In: Jucker R and von Au J (eds) High-Quality Outdoor Learning: Evidence-Based Education Outside the Classroom for Children, Teachers and Society. Berlin: Springer, pp. 1–25.
Mann J, Gray T and Truong S (2022a) Rediscovering the potential of outdoor learning for developing 21st century competencies. In: Jucker R and von Au J (eds) High-Quality Outdoor Learning: Evidence-Based Education Outside the Classroom for Children, Teachers and Society. Berlin: Springer, pp. 211–229.
Mann J, Gray T, Truong S et al. (2022b) Getting out of the classroom and into nature: A systematic review of nature-specific outdoor learning on school children’s learning and development. Frontiers in Public Health 10: 877058.
Marchant E, Todd C, Cooksey R et al. (2019) Curriculum-based outdoor learning for children aged 9–11: A qualitative analysis of pupils’ and teachers’ views. PloS One 14(5): e0212242.
Miller NC, Kumar S, Pearce KL et al. (2021) The outcomes of nature-based learning for primary school aged children: A systematic review of quantitative researchQuantitative research usually emphasises quantification in the collection and analysis of data.. Environmental Education Research 27(8): 1115–1140.
Rickinson M, Dillon J, Teamey K et al. (2004) A review of research on outdoor learning. NFER and King’s College London. Available at: www.informalscience.org/sites/default/files/Review%20of%20research%20on%20outdoor%20learning.pdf (accessed 13 March 2023).
Waite S (2022) International views on school-based outdoor learning. In: Jucker R and von Au J (eds) High-Quality Outdoor Learning: Evidence-Based Education Outside the Classroom for Children, Teachers and Society. Berlin: Springer, pp. 301–319.
Waite S and Malone K (2016) Student Outcomes and Natural Schooling Pathways from Evidence to Impact Report 2016. Available at: https://ltl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/student-outcomes-and-natural-schooling-conference-report-2016.pdf (accessed 23 July 2024).
Tools and resources
As part of the Rethinking Curriculum project, we have created a number of bespoke resources to develop your understanding of nature-based and outdoor learning. These resources are designed to help you explore the distinct characteristics of this approach in further depth, understand what this could look like in practice and make informed decisions about whether this might be appropriate for your school and students.
We encourage you to engage with the following:
Read our research review
This review summarises some of the research evidence around outdoor learning, specifically exploring the impact on a range of student outcomes and the implications for practice.
Read this case study
Edd Moore has written a case study to share his journey in implementing a focus on outdoor learning in the classroom and wider school setting. This case study could be used to understand the process further but is not intended to be directly replicated as we strongly believe that all schools should be delivering for their community and circumstances.
Watch this webinar
We hosted a webinar with Penny Hay, Jonelle Yeoman and Yvette Pearse to share their experiences of implementing nature-based and outdoor learning in schools. This recording could be rewatched with your school leadership or teaching teams to begin to explore the purpose and application of a nature-based curriculum. To support with this, we have prepared a range of reflective questions to facilitate discussion and consider future actions.
Use this evaluation tool
We have created an evaluation tool to be used with your school leadership teams to develop understanding of where your current curriculum is in terms of introducing and embedding a nature-based focus. The aim of using this tool is to celebrate and acknowledge the work you are already doing but also to refine actions going forward.
This tool could help with reviewing the curriculum at a whole-school level, ensuring that expectations of experiences within the curriculum are relevant and catered for effectively. It could also support teacher development in the planning and application of the delivery methods.
This tool is intended to be used alongside the Rethinking Curriculum Evaluation Framework to be launched in December 2024. Click here for further information.
Use this document to explore how this approach aligns with the National Curriculum
As part of this project, schools asked for a tool to map how specific curriculum approaches aligned with the current National Curriculum. We invite you to use this document to further develop and refine your curriculum vision.
Go further with our reading and resources list
We have created a list of further reading and resources to deepen your understanding of developing a nature-based curriculum. These include academic research, case studies and webinars. We have ensured that all resources are open access or available to members of The Chartered College of Teaching.
