Thriving Learners
Co-designed, student-led, nature-based teaching and learning
A Nature Play SA initiative supported by the Department for Education
Department for Education. (2024). Areas of Impact. https://www.education.sa.gov.au/purpose-media/Public-Education-Strategic-Plan.pdf
Thriving Learners aims to strengthen the Areas of Impact through co-designed, student-led, nature-based teaching and learning. The initiative is underpinned by the Areas of Impact (left) and is a focussed, intentional, and contextualised program. Government schools from across the state were invited to participate through an Expression of Interest, promoted by the Engagement and Wellbeing Directorate and our education networks.
For each site, the student-led, co-designed, nature-based program is delivered through weekly sessions, with teachers and students actively participating in the ongoing intentional learning design.
The initiative intends for learners, as a result of nature-based learning, to demonstrate improvement in (but not limited to) cognitive engagement; resilience; knowledge, skills, competencies, and capabilities; meaning making; and discernment and judgement.
Thriving Learners in Practice – Stories to Inform and Inspire
Connecting Outdoor Learning and Wellbeing with Seacliff Primary School
Activating Outdoor Learning Spaces at Wandana Primary School
Reimagining Free Play at Elizabeth Downs Primary School
Supporting Cultural Connection and Belonging at Aberfoyle Park High School
Supporting Connection to Place at Christie Downs Primary School
Transformative Co-Design at Hallett Cove South Primary School
Activating The Paddock: Outdoor Learning at The Willows Children’s Centre
Supporting Connection to Nature with Findon Technical College
“We want our students to be confident in their ability to deal with day-to-day stresses. We want to provide our students with the conditions where resilience, interpersonal skills, empathy, problem solving, creativity and all the rest can emerge.”
– Patrick Jolly, Christie Downs Primary School educator on why the school engaged in a Thriving Learners partnership with NPSA
Testimonials
We learnt about communities, biodiversity and symbiosis - we can use this knowledge to help us create a more biodiverse environment when planning what to do next.
This partnership has shown us ways to plan for the Areas of Impact broadly as well as all at once. One example being our recent Kuitpo Forest excursion where students had voice in what they did, curiosity and meaning making was everywhere, inclusion, belonging and safety, resilience and persistence were all there for the students.
Students engaged in creative storytelling in play and further developed social skills. They also engaged in learning about safe risk taking and how to use tools effectively/safely.
