Webinar: Nature-based and outdoor learning in primary schools
What is the purpose of this webinar?
This webinar is part of a series around curriculum enrichment in primary schools as part of the extensive Rethinking Curriculum project. This series aims to support and equip both teachers and school leaders with the knowledge and skills to identify, plan and implement curriculum development work in a sustainable, creative and impactful way.
Who is this webinar aimed at?
This webinar will be particularly valuable to primary teachers, those involved in curriculum design more broadly, and all educators who want to learn about nature-based and outdoor learning in practice.
What does the webinar explore?
In this webinar, expert practitioners and researchers – Penny Hay, Jonelle Yeoman and Yvette Pearse – share insights and experiences about embedding opportunities for outdoor learning and/or a nature-based approach across the curriculum. At the end of their presentations, there is a Q&A session to learn about the why, how and what next in developing nature-based and outdoor learning in the primary curriculum.
How could I use this webinar to support my team?
This webinar could be re-watched with your school leadership or teaching teams to develop a shared understanding of this approach. We have prepared some reflective questions that could be used to inform discussions and begin to consider what this might look like in your context.
The webinar has been edited split into the following sections:
- 0.17 – Penny Hay, Professor of Imagination Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries and Reader in Creative Teaching and Learning at Bath Spa University, shares some of her experiences in supporting schools in implementing an outdoor and nature-based curriculum.
- 8.38 – Jonelle Yeoman, Headteacher at Greatwood Community Primary School in Skipton, shares their school’s journey introducing and implementing an outdoor and nature-based curriculum in their setting.
- 20.30 – Yvette Pearse is the Deputy Headteacher at Bagthorpe Primary School, located ten miles outside Nottingham. Here, she shares her school’s journey introducing and implementing an outdoor and nature-based curriculum in their setting.
- 35.36 – A Q&A session with the researchers and practitioners above to further explore the challenges, opportunities and practicalities of introducing and implementing an outdoor and nature-based curriculum.
As you watch the webinar, you may wish to note down insights that build on your understanding of this work.
You may wish to consider:
- What principles and practices resonate with your current understanding and application of nature-based and outdoor learning?
- How have the presentations shifted your current thinking around nature-based or outdoor learning? How could this inform your approach going forward?
- Why do you think a nature-based approach and/or outdoor learning could be important for the students in your context?
- What excites you about the examples shared in the presentations? Is there anything specific you would like to adopt in your own context?
- What are the challenges of adopting this approach? How have the presenters attempted to overcome these challenges?
- How have the presenters supported their staff teams to deliver this curriculum effectively?
- What are your key takeaways from the webinar?
- Are there any further questions you have about introducing, implementing or refining your current approach to oracy?
