Grow to School, a social enterprise based in Huddersfield and set up by environmental scientist Ama Chaney and outdoor learning practitioner Zana Wood, works to support the teaching of primary school children outside.
The new resource is designed to help teachers engage young children in the curriculum through outdoor learning. Teach it Outside is a bank of lesson plans that covers subjects including English, maths, geography, history, art, science, design and technology, and PE.
The lesson plans include working in playgrounds and using natural materials and everyday items. They work across all primary key stages, with the whole class or small groups.
Ms Chaney said: “Children really benefit from learning outdoors and now more than ever we are seeing multiple benefits to being outside. With assistance, even a tarmac playground can be a creative space to deliver meaningful lessons.
“We also provide resources to help you understand how to set clear boundaries with children who often get giddy when working outside. We aim to make the process as smooth as possible so that teachers and children can enjoy the lessons and benefit from the positive impacts of learning outdoors.”
Grow to School has worked with nearly 24,000 children since 2010 and has been awarded the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’s Quality Badge.
Elsewhere, during Covid-19 Grow To School released some free wellbeing packs with outdoor learning activities created with pandemic rules in mind, including socially distanced games with a focus on relationship-building.
- For more information, visit https://teachitoutside.com
- To download the free sample pack, visit https://teachitoutside.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sample-lesson-plan.pdf
- To download the free wellbeing packs, visit https://www.growtoschool.co.uk/backtoschool/