10 ways to promote creative outdoor learning with young people
Get your little Attenborough’s clued up on nature and better yet, thinking of ways we can help to protect it. There’s no better way to build children's awareness of the world around them than to encourage them to get outside and explore all that there is to offer.
1. Use the space around you
There is no need to journey to the mountains or woods for a young person to have valuable outdoor experiences. The playground or the park is the perfect place for children to explore.
Children can hunt for leaves, sticks, and rocks to create small dens for wildlife. They can search for bugs like worms and spiders. Doing this throughout all the seasons will assist children in their understanding of the changes in nature and the plants and bugs that thrive in all different types of weather.
2. Routine, routine, routine
Creating a routine you can stick to is critical to keeping up good habits. Carving out time each week for children to connect with nature is important for children's physical and mental health.
3. Teachers, look at your lesson plan
During lockdown, a poll found that 67% of children said they wanted their school to have at least one outdoor lesson a day. Have a look at your schedule or lesson plan. Can you switch anything up so that outdoor learning can help to deliver your learning objectives?
Can you use natural materials in the lesson? Can you finish the lesson outside rather than in the classroom? Use nature as a way to deliver your existing curriculum rather than creating more work to do.
4. Don’t fret, there’s help out there
You don't have to do everything yourself. The RSPB’s Wild Challenge offers awards based on how much of the challenge you complete. Why not try out our Maker challenge with designer and technologist Jude Pullen - create an invention using things found in nature to help nature.
5. Muddy Mondays
Or Welly Wednesdays? Having a dedicated day each week will help make it a firm part of your routine.
6. Encourage others
Take photos and videos of your outdoor learning experiences and share them on your social media accounts.
7. Celebrate
There are lots of national wild events that you as a school or family could celebrate. For example the RSBP’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a week dedicated to counting birds. Mark them in your calendar and make this an annual event where everyone gets involved.
8. Start a gardening club
It can be difficult to squeeze gardening into the curriculum. If you don’t have much space, a few pots and planters dotted around is enough to get kids inspired to be green fingered.
Teachers, you could even have your school garden sponsored by a local company to give you a small budget. Ask for help from parents and even grandparents. You might be surprised by the expertise there is on offer.
9. We have lots of free ‘green’ resources to get you started
Take a look at our challenges. Get your class out in nature to explore and then sit down and work on our STEM-based creative activities.
10. Keep growing!
Promote outdoor creative learning and set it as homework. You don’t need a garden. There’s the local park or woodland areas too. Create a reward system to encourage more outdoor learning. Each week a child or student could be awarded a certificate or sticker.
