Today is Outdoor Classroom Day 2024, this is an exciting opportunity for educators, parents, and communities to celebrate the benefits of outdoor learning. Outdoor Classroom Day encourages schools and families worldwide to prioritise outdoor activities and natural play as essential parts of education. With an increasing body of research highlighting the benefits of outdoor learning, what better day to explore and learn in the great outdoors!
Why Outdoor Classroom Day Matters
Outdoor Classroom Day is far more than a one-day event—it’s a movement that encourages a transformative approach to education. For children, nature serves as a vast, interactive classroom, filled with endless opportunities for experiential learning. Research demonstrates that outdoor learning can:
- Boost physical health: Outdoor activities encourage children to move their bodies, increase physical fitness and in turn lower stress levels.
- Enhance mental well-being: Time in nature has been linked to improving an individual’s moods, reducing anxiety, and higher resilience.
- Improve focus and cognitive function: Being outside, even for a short amount of time, has been shown to have positive effects on attention span and learning outcomes.
- Promote environmental responsibility: Outdoor learning builds a bond with nature, inspiring children to appreciate and protect the environment.
Outdoor Learning Activities that Schools can participate in
This year’s theme focuses on “Learning Without Walls” – a concept that inspires creativity in incorporating natural environments into lesson plans.
Here are a few ideas for educators and schools looking to get the best from outdoor learning:
- Math in Nature: Have students explore natural symmetry, measure objects they find, or create graphs based on observations of plants or animals. This is a fun way to bring math lessons to life.
- Science Experiments: Bring science lessons outside by exploring ecosystems, observing insects, or testing soil and water. Nature provides limitless opportunities for hands-on scientific discovery.
- Art in the Wild: Set up an outdoor art station where students can sketch, paint, or create nature-inspired arts and crafts. Leaf rubbings, rock paintings, or flower pressing are great activities that blend creativity with appreciation for the environment.
- Storytime and Literacy Circles: Bring reading outdoors, where the sounds and sights of nature can enrich storytelling. Nature journaling is also an excellent way to blend literacy with personal reflection, asking students to write about what they hear or see.
- Mindfulness and Reflection: Outdoor environments are ideal for practising mindfulness. Introduce activities like meditation, quiet reflection, or yoga to help students relax and reconnect with themselves and the natural world.
Encouraging Families to Join In
Anyone can join in with outdoor learning this outdoor classroom day with simple activities like backyard science experiments, scavenger hunts, or nature-inspired art projects that offer memorable ways to connect with children, make memories and reinforce what they’re learning in school.
- Backyard Bingo: Create a bingo card with items like “bird,” “flower,” “acorn,” and “butterfly.” Go for a walk with kids, and check off each item as they spot it.
- Nature Collage: Collect leaves, sticks, flowers, and pebbles to create beautiful nature collages. This activity combines art with a love for the outdoors.
- Reading Picnic: Pack a few favourite books, and some snacks, and head to the nearest park or backyard for an outdoor reading session, don’t forget a magnifying glass or binoculars if you have some, the little ones will love exploring with these.
The Enduring Effects of Outdoor Classroom Day
Outdoor Classroom Day serves as a reminder that education can be varied, engaging, and grounded in real-world experiences. When children develop a connection to their surroundings, they become more passionate learners, committed environmental protectors, and confident thinkers. So let’s honour Outdoor Classroom Day this year by recognising the natural world as a space for play, exploration, and learning. No matter whether it is in our gardens, the park or on a trip, let’s step outside, open our minds and create lasting memories together
