Learning Outside the Classroom

A child learning outside the classroom often provides the most memorable learning experiences. These experiences can control the way we think, our view of the world and also control the important decisions we have to make (Manifesto, 2006).

The outdoor environment has recently become an essential part of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The Early Years Foundation Stage states that the outdoor environment is an important part of development for a child at whatever age.

There are numerous places where learning can happen outside the classroom; churches, museums, castles, theatres, the zoo, art galleries, field trips (Maynard and Waters, 2007).

Here is a video of different clips put together of children learning outdoors. I found this video inspiring as you can see the enthusiasm and the eagerness all the children have to learn.

 

'The influence of the outdoor environment: den making in three different contexts' is an effective journal relating to the flexible opportunities children have when learning outdoors. The journal contains research on how children aged 3 - 5 years engaged themselves to den-making which were set in different outdoor environments. This project revealed that although the activity had taken place in different settings, all the children were imaginative, creative and their communication with other children and the practitioners were helped from doing this activity. This activity also helped develop many skills, such as compromising with others, spatial awareness, independence. Lester and Russell (2008) state that children have motivation to learn when activities are based in a different place or that the activity is based on a child's interest, therefore this shows that the outdoor environment offers children the opportunity to explore and to see things in more than one way (Canning, 2010).
 

When I was a child, I remember always playing outside with friends or my siblings, but today you do not see as many children playing outdoors. There are many reasons why outdoor learning happens less today. The modern technology we have today stops children from wanting to play outside, unfortunately children prefer to play on computer games, Nintendo's, watch television and play on their mobile phones. I also remember playing outside the front garden when I was younger, but this is also less frequent today. Road safety and abductions have become more of an issue, and in the end children choose not to play outside because adults make them more nervous.

In my opinion, schools should be organising more outdoor activities for children to learn. As a child I remember how exciting it was going on a school trip - children can be more eager to learn when they are away from the classroom. Outdoor learning can help build a child's confidence and also help develop relationships with teachers and other children.  
Evidence shows that when children spend time learning out of the classroom, it makes an improvement on a child's grades (Thomas, 2012).

The pictures below show that outdoor learning is a fun and effective way to learn.