Learning outdoors guides

Primary School Outdoor Learning Curriculum Plan

Month by month, from nursery to Year 6, including learning and risk assessments.
"This Outdoor Learning Curriculum Plan has been devised taking into consideration celebrations, community, annual events along with maintenance jobs, routines and free play but it also leaves room for responsive/planning in the moment (PITM). There is enough flexibility within each month to introduce new activities, change and adapt and follow the children’s ideas (where possible, resource dependant). Each session will introduce an element of British Sign Language and the children will be introduced to a sign of the session each week." Incredibly thorough and in-depth 70-page document created and shared freely by Gemma Hill-Davis of Camp Curiosity, 2021.

10 ways to measure a tree

From simple through to complex methods of measuring a tree - including using a bucket of water as a tool, peering through your legs, comparing shadows, and more. Pdf download from Outdoor Classroom Day

Outdoor Learning in Cold Weather Keep Moving through Winter and COVID–19

Outdoor Learning in Cold Weather: tips on winter clothing; food, shelter & activity; materials and equipment; and winter curriculum, plus a sample schedule for a half-day outdoors in winter.
Inside-Outside (US), November 2020

What to Look for in an Outdoor Classroom Site

Useful infographic of 'key things to look for when selecting your outdoor classroom site'. Nature Natalie (US), 2 July 2020

Why Build An Outdoor Classroom?

Insights from Eric Nelson's book, Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms, including the goal of an outdoor classroom, the benefits, and 5 questions to get you started. Outdoortopia (US), 6 March 2020

The Good School Playground Guide

"Highlights the possibilities and priorities when designing and improving school grounds for play and learning. Whatever your budget or scale of ambition, this guide will help you develop outdoor spaces which will help make your school the best place to grow up in." Learning Through Landscapes

Outdoor Classrooms, Labs & Habitats

A thorough, detailed and compete guide to creating an outdoor classroom. ‘From the simplest outdoor seating structure to multi-faceted schoolyard habitats, gardens, restoration areas, outdoor labs, weather stations and more, there are endless possibilities to create (and keep creating!) outdoor settings that are functional for teachers and engaging for students.’ Bay Backpack (US)

Designing an Outdoor Classroom: 5 Simple Things to Consider

Asks how do we maximize outdoor learning spaces? And offers 5 simple questions to get you started, and thoughts on involving children in the design. Outdoortopia (US), 18 November 2018

Learning Away curriculum integration

‘Discover how Learning Away schools plan curriculum focused residential experiences from KS1 to GCSE.’ Sections: overview – benefits – getting started – progression – resource library. Learning Away.

Schoolyard Design Guide

‘We hope these ideas will inspire creative schoolyard projects in communities across the globe! Each section highlights specific areas or elements that can be incorporated into a schoolyard renovation. Accompanying photos illustrate examples of these design concepts. The checklist at the end is a tool for reviewing final site plans.’ Boston Schoolyard Initiative (US), 2013 (pdf)

How to set up a food co-op or buying group in a school

“This simple “how to” factsheet advises schools on how to make fresh, local, ethically produced food more accessible to the local community, whilst supporting local farmers by providing them with a local, regular and reliable outlet. A school food co-op can also support other programmes such as Healthy Schools, Eco Schools and Food For Life.” Sustain, 2011

Getting Started: A Guide for Creating School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms

‘The Life Lab Science Program distilled their years of world-wide school garden experience into a concise 50-page guide that asks and answers most questions you need to consider for creating an outdoor classroom garden. Items covered include your garden’s purpose; school staff, volunteers, and students; connecting with curriculum; site selection and design; theme gardens; fund-raising; public awareness; and more.’ Free download. Life Lab (US), 2007.

Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto

7 key pledges for supporting learning outside the classroom, plus some background into its benefits, purposes and methods. DfES, 2006

A Child’s Garden of Standards

Written to link school gardens to California Education Standards. Examines the benefits & concepts of school gardens, & offers garden-based activities linked to academic study areas & grade levels, with contributions from schools successfully using this model, with plenty of content transferable to similar projects on the UK. California Department of Education, 2002, on Green Schoolyard Network