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What is an outdoor learning environment?

What is an outdoor learning environment?

A natural outdoor play and learning environment is outdoor space at an early childhood education center that includes diverse features designed to promote structured and unstructured physical activity, play, and learning.

What makes a good outdoor learning environment?

Children should enjoy regular, frequent and meaningful opportunities to play, explore and learn in natural environments or urban outdoor spaces — be it in a playground, neighbourhood park, community garden, a grass patch or any open space in the immediate vicinity of your centre.

How does the outdoor environment support children’s learning?

Children who learn in an outdoor environment will build a closer connection and appreciation of the nature around them. It helps them grasp an understanding of the world we live in, allowing them to experience wildlife, animals, lifecycles and habitats in their own surroundings.

What is needed in an outdoor environment?

Adequate space for play for the children and youth in your program (large programs may need staggered outdoor times to keep it from being overcrowded) Sheltered space that provides shade and protection from the weather. Easy access to a source of drinking water. Accessible storage for outdoor play equipment.

What is meant by outdoor learning?

Outdoor Learning covers the acquisition or refinement of specific knowledge and skills as well as the sometime more subtle changes in behaviours and attitudes that can lead to increased health and wellbeing, and environmental awareness.

What is the meaning of outdoor learning?

Outdoor Learning is a broad term that includes: outdoor play in the early years, school grounds projects, environmental education, recreational and adventure activities, personal and social development programmes, expeditions, team building, leadership training, management development, education for sustainability.

What is outdoor learning in kindergarten?

Daily outdoor learning helps to develop healthy, active lifestyles and routines for our students, while providing them with hands-on experiences in our natural world. Through these experiences, the children learn to understand and respect nature, and feel a connection to our world and our community.

How does an outdoor environment support play?

Being outdoors supports confidence and allows opportunities for big scale play, problem-solving and creativity in the company of other children. Physical activity is enhanced. The outdoors supports active learning and when balanced with quiet areas for reflection can really enhance children’s learning.

How the outdoor setup must be in preschool?

10 Guidelines for Creating an Outdoor Play Space for Preschoolers

  1. Make Wise Choices.
  2. Keep Safety First..
  3. Use a “centers and zones” concept.
  4. Include some “loose parts.” What are loose parts, you ask?
  5. Add storage.
  6. Group compatible activities together.
  7. Add some seating.
  8. Be inclusive.

Why should children learn outdoors?

Playing and learning outside also helps children to understand and respect nature, the environment and the interdependence of humans, animals, plants, and lifecycles. The outdoor environment offers space and therefore is particularly important to those children who learn best through active movement.