A summary of outdoor learning resources

Published 09/10/2020.  Last updated 12/12/2023
sourceLearning resources categoryOutdoor learning

two young people wearing blazers stand before a spray of pink flowers with a backdrop of hedgerow. They smile and look down at the flowersBeing outdoors and active is an essential part of growing up and leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Outdoor learning benefits children, young people and adults alike. It engages our hearts through what we feel, our heads through what we think, and our hands through our physical experiences. Outdoor learning can take place anywhere from school grounds to local green spaces, high streets to national parks, from your front door to the rest of the world.

Outdoor learning resources

Our Outdoor Learning for Sustainability Wakelet contains a range of online curriculum resources for outdoor learning. This collection of resources has been created in partnership with outdoor learning and Learning for Sustainability organisations to meet the needs of practitioners across sectors.

Outdoor learning policies and documents

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning (PDF)

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning - Gaelic version (PDF)

Outdoor Learning: Practical guidance, ideas and support for teachers and practitioners in Scotland (PDF)

Learning for Sustainability Report of the One Planet Schools Working Group (PDF)

Vision 2030+ Report and Learning for Sustainability Action Plan

Scotland’s Coalition for Outdoor Play and Learning Position Statement (inspiringscotland.org)

Out to Play: practical guidance on creating outdoor lay experiences (gov.scot)

Out to Play: Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces (gov.scot)

Space to Grow: Design guidance for early learning and childcare (gov.scot)

The Suitability Core Fact: Building Better Schools (gov.scot)

Outdoor Learning Briefing Paper (Policy Scotland)

Managing risk in outdoor learning (PDF)

Building your curriculum outside and in (PDF)

Building Your Curriculum reflection tool (PDF)

Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors

Further resources and support

A summary of Learning for Sustainability resources (gov.scot)

Outdoor Learning Directory (Scotland)

National Network of Outdoor Learning (Scotland): Map of Outdoor Learning and Play Providers (NNOL Scotland)

Scottish framework for safe practice in off-site visits (goingoutthere.com)

Playtime revolution: a resource from Grounds for Learning

Climate Ready School Grounds - Learning through Landscapes (ltl.org.uk)

Forest Kindergarten approach – learning outdoors with confidence

Religious and moral education through outdoor learning (PDF)

Beyond your boundary: easy steps to learning in local greenspace (nature.scot)

Professional learning

Support for professional development in outdoor learning

Teaching Learning Outdoors online professional learning course

Supporting Learning Outdoors online professional learning course

Webinars

How awards can help you take learning outdoors (YouTube)

Social studies and outdoor learning (YouTube)

A Headteacher’s journey (YouTube)

Four contexts and outdoor learning (YouTube)

Using digital tools to capture, create and share outdoor learning (YouTube)

Learning outdoors - Numeracy and Mathematics (YouTube)

Outdoor learning with a focus on additional support needs

Literacy in the outdoors

RME in the outdoors

Gender differences in the outdoors

Outdoor learning - what can we learn from research

Outdoor learning and early level

Research

Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors: a survey of provision in Scotland (nature.scot)

Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning policy briefings (Glow blog)

The use of residential experiences and their impact on attainment (learningaway.org)

Transforming outdoor learning in schools lessons from the natural connections project (plymouth.ac.uk)

Natural Connections Demonstration Project: Final report and (analysisnaturalengland.org)

More than just a ski trip (relationalschools.org)

Outdoor learning in Scottish education

NatureScot: Learning in local greenspace

Case studies

Additional Support Needs (ASN)

Learning in Local Greenspace with St Crispin's School (NatureScot)

Early Learning and Childcare

Learning outdoors with confidence (PDF)

Get the bairns oot! An outdoor kindergarten in Norway

Primary

Kirkshaws Primary School - a case study

St Paul’s Primary School - a case study

Beckford Primary School and the Rowan Cottage Nurture Group - a case study

St Benedict’s Primary School - a case study

Patna Primary School - a case study

Linnvale Primary School - a case study

Easter Carmuirs Primary School - a case study

All about the bees! Logan Primary School, East Ayrshire (Glow blog)

Gartocharn Primary School – outdoor learning before and into the recovery phase

Outdoor Learning as a context and an approach for learning: Middleton Park School, Aberdeen City

Cycle Co-operative, East Dunbartonshire

Secondary

International partnerships: Bannerman High School, Glasgow

Community Learning and Development (CLD)

Family Fresh Air Club, Dundee

Outdoor residential experiences

Residential experiences and the John Muir Award at Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre (743 KB)

COVID-19 guidance

Scottish Government Advice for Schools: Visits and Trips Autumn Term 2020 (goingoutthere.com)

Outdoor Education Centres: Fit for the future (PDF)

Education recovery and support from outdoor education centres

A summary of outdoor learning resources

Published 09/10/2020.  Last updated 12/12/2023
sourceLearning resources categoryOutdoor learning

two young people wearing blazers stand before a spray of pink flowers with a backdrop of hedgerow. They smile and look down at the flowersBeing outdoors and active is an essential part of growing up and leading a healthy and fulfilling life. Outdoor learning benefits children, young people and adults alike. It engages our hearts through what we feel, our heads through what we think, and our hands through our physical experiences. Outdoor learning can take place anywhere from school grounds to local green spaces, high streets to national parks, from your front door to the rest of the world.

Outdoor learning resources

Our Outdoor Learning for Sustainability Wakelet contains a range of online curriculum resources for outdoor learning. This collection of resources has been created in partnership with outdoor learning and Learning for Sustainability organisations to meet the needs of practitioners across sectors.

Outdoor learning policies and documents

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning (PDF)

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning - Gaelic version (PDF)

Outdoor Learning: Practical guidance, ideas and support for teachers and practitioners in Scotland (PDF)

Learning for Sustainability Report of the One Planet Schools Working Group (PDF)

Vision 2030+ Report and Learning for Sustainability Action Plan

Scotland’s Coalition for Outdoor Play and Learning Position Statement (inspiringscotland.org)

Out to Play: practical guidance on creating outdoor lay experiences (gov.scot)

Out to Play: Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces (gov.scot)

Space to Grow: Design guidance for early learning and childcare (gov.scot)

The Suitability Core Fact: Building Better Schools (gov.scot)

Outdoor Learning Briefing Paper (Policy Scotland)

Managing risk in outdoor learning (PDF)

Building your curriculum outside and in (PDF)

Building Your Curriculum reflection tool (PDF)

Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors

Further resources and support

A summary of Learning for Sustainability resources (gov.scot)

Outdoor Learning Directory (Scotland)

National Network of Outdoor Learning (Scotland): Map of Outdoor Learning and Play Providers (NNOL Scotland)

Scottish framework for safe practice in off-site visits (goingoutthere.com)

Playtime revolution: a resource from Grounds for Learning

Climate Ready School Grounds - Learning through Landscapes (ltl.org.uk)

Forest Kindergarten approach – learning outdoors with confidence

Religious and moral education through outdoor learning (PDF)

Beyond your boundary: easy steps to learning in local greenspace (nature.scot)

Professional learning

Support for professional development in outdoor learning

Teaching Learning Outdoors online professional learning course

Supporting Learning Outdoors online professional learning course

Webinars

How awards can help you take learning outdoors (YouTube)

Social studies and outdoor learning (YouTube)

A Headteacher’s journey (YouTube)

Four contexts and outdoor learning (YouTube)

Using digital tools to capture, create and share outdoor learning (YouTube)

Learning outdoors - Numeracy and Mathematics (YouTube)

Outdoor learning with a focus on additional support needs

Literacy in the outdoors

RME in the outdoors

Gender differences in the outdoors

Outdoor learning - what can we learn from research

Outdoor learning and early level

Research

Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors: a survey of provision in Scotland (nature.scot)

Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning policy briefings (Glow blog)

The use of residential experiences and their impact on attainment (learningaway.org)

Transforming outdoor learning in schools lessons from the natural connections project (plymouth.ac.uk)

Natural Connections Demonstration Project: Final report and (analysisnaturalengland.org)

More than just a ski trip (relationalschools.org)

Outdoor learning in Scottish education

NatureScot: Learning in local greenspace

Case studies

Additional Support Needs (ASN)

Learning in Local Greenspace with St Crispin's School (NatureScot)

Early Learning and Childcare

Learning outdoors with confidence (PDF)

Get the bairns oot! An outdoor kindergarten in Norway

Primary

Kirkshaws Primary School - a case study

St Paul’s Primary School - a case study

Beckford Primary School and the Rowan Cottage Nurture Group - a case study

St Benedict’s Primary School - a case study

Patna Primary School - a case study

Linnvale Primary School - a case study

Easter Carmuirs Primary School - a case study

All about the bees! Logan Primary School, East Ayrshire (Glow blog)

Gartocharn Primary School – outdoor learning before and into the recovery phase

Outdoor Learning as a context and an approach for learning: Middleton Park School, Aberdeen City

Cycle Co-operative, East Dunbartonshire

Secondary

International partnerships: Bannerman High School, Glasgow

Community Learning and Development (CLD)

Family Fresh Air Club, Dundee

Outdoor residential experiences

Residential experiences and the John Muir Award at Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre (743 KB)

COVID-19 guidance

Scottish Government Advice for Schools: Visits and Trips Autumn Term 2020 (goingoutthere.com)

Outdoor Education Centres: Fit for the future (PDF)

Education recovery and support from outdoor education centres