TEACH OUT TOOLKIT

The Teach Out Toolkit support educators and families to take learning outdoors with lessons, missions and ideas to support student’s learning – wherever they are. Check in here to download the NPSA Student Outdoor Learning Passport today.

There are many tried and tested routines that help when working outdoors with students as well as go-to resources to support all kinds of learning. Read on for suggestions and resources to support with class management, setting up in the outdoors and working with ease and confidence to deliver curriculum in a dynamic outdoor environment.

Nature is a wonderful healer and supports positive wellbeing for all. Take time to venture into a quiet outdoor space to; slow down, be still, breathe in fresh air and clear your mind. A great way to ‘reset’ for students and support anxious or busy minds. Read on for tips to support this approach with students of all ages.

Anchoring children into an outdoor space is a great way to begin your venture into outdoor learning. Find a special space to set up as your outdoor classroom and then revisit this space frequently. Repeated and regular use of this space will help to create a sense of pride and connection for all.

Leaves are a great tool for tuning into the changing seasons and local environments. They offer an incredibly visual and tactile experience for all and are a great springboard for learning in maths, the arts, science and literacy.

There are many benefits to nature journaling for children of all ages. Developing an awareness of your environment is an added benefit when learning how to record and reflect through a scientific, artistic or creative lens.

Sticks are a great teaching tool. When used constructively, they facilitate imaginative, creative and open-ended play. Read on for suggestions around safety, resourcing and intentional teaching with this sustainable and low cost resource.

Loose parts are a wonderful tool for storytelling and oral language development. Small and large loose parts offer different avenues for linking curriculum to outdoor learning. Small loose parts sourced from nature offer a whole other level of inquiry and sensory exploration. The possibilities are endless and open-ended!

When was the last time you touched the bark of a tree? Or rubbed a leaf in your hands? We tune into the affordances for oral language development through a connection with engaging nature to ignite our senses.

The natural world showcases patterning in weird, wonderful and amazing ways. Explore fractals, the Fibonacci sequence and more. Use nature as the inspiration to find and create amazing patterns.

Story stones are a wonderful addition to an outdoor learning environment. Create them with students for creative play or structured lessons. Stones are also a wonderful resource to create ephemeral art, transient art or treasure hunts; curriculum connections galore!

Small and large lengths of rope are a low cost, light weight resource. Perfect for taking out to large spaces and exploring measurement, number and shape. Or simply to play and explore – where students creativity informs your next step. Learn more here.