Why outdoor learning is as important for teachers as it is for students

It’s been well documented that outdoor learning supports children’s educational growth. Holding lessons outside has been found to increase students’ confidence, communication, motivation and understanding. It even improves the relationship between students and their teachers. In a study commissioned by The Wildlife Trust, it was reported that 81% of children had better relationships with their teachers after engaging in outdoor learning.

But outdoor learning isn’t just a great tool for students – it’s a wonderful resource for teachers too. While seeing your students develop and succeed is a massive benefit of outdoor learning, here are four other reasons to take your next lesson outside.

It boosts your health and wellbeing

It might not seem like changing the environment of your lesson would improve your health, but research has found that spending 20 minutes outside reduces cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone, so regulating its production will help you unwind. Similarly, Natural England reported in a study of 125 schools that 72% of schools said that outdoor learning had a positive impact on teachers’ health and wellbeing.

Learning outside supports your teaching

Enjoying the fresh air as you teach has also been found to help during lessons. In the same study by Natural England, 90% of staff said that outdoor learning was useful for curriculum delivery. Spending time outside can bring topics to life that might otherwise seem abstract. There are plenty of ways to take your classroom learning outdoors, even for subjects that you might not have thought would tie in with the natural world, including maths and music.

Teaching outdoors lets you try something new

Changing the environment of your classroom is a great way to switch up your teaching plan. If you feel like you’re slipping into a lesson rut, taking your students outside can inspire new ideas and approaches to topics. Holding lessons outside gives you a chance to try something new, adapted to your changing environment, and see what works best for you and your students. The outdoor space doesn’t need to be big – a playground or a school field is plenty of space. Peer under leaves to look for insects, learn how to read maps, or discover weather fronts in real time.

It's fun

Breaking out of your classroom and embracing the freedom that being outside offers is enjoyable. Research has even found that an hour or two of outdoor learning every week increases teachers' job satisfaction. And if you’re having fun, there’s a good chance that your students are too. So, enjoy outdoor learning and make it work for you.