Smarter by nature: Does research suggest that young brains can be nurtured by nature? If so, why hasn’t this influenced school curriculum and pedagogy?
Written by: Gemma Goldenberg
6 min read
GEMMA GOLDENBERG, PHD RESEARCHER, UEL, UK; RESEARCH AND LEARNING SPECIALIST, CHARTERED COLLEGE OF TEACHING, UK
My first teaching job was at an inner-city primary school with a tarmac playground on the rooftop because there wasn’t enough space at ground level. Despite the lack of nature on site, it felt counterintuitive to persuade children to sit quietly indoors at a table for most of the day, while they seemed more naturally compelled to run, jump and chatter their way through their waking hours.
While as early humans our brains developed outdoors, today we seem to think that school is a building, and that learning is primarily an indoor pursuit. Nursery and Reception children typically have frequent access to outdoor spaces but this is often deemed unnecessary or counterproductive after children leave the foundation stage. Even prior to COVID-19 restrictions, a survey revealed that 12 per cent of children in the UK had not been in a natural outdoor environment such as a park, f
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