Nature-based and outdoor learning: Selected reading

This is a collection of research articles, case studies, webinars and other relevant resources to further develop your understanding of nature-based and outdoor learning. We have ensured that these are open access or available to members of The Chartered College of Teaching. 

The resources collated here will not provide a recipe for what you should do. Some of the articles will also present opposing viewpoints, and ones which may contradict your own viewpoint or experience. They will provoke thought, debate and discussion. We encourage you to read and appraise the literature to make informed decisions based on your local context, professional experience and other available research evidence. 

Resources from the Chartered College of Teaching

N.B. Please note that non-members can only access three articles per month. Join today to get full access to all resources provided on our platform.

• This short article provides an overview of what we mean by ‘outdoor learning’ and offers some suggestions of what this might look like in practice. 
• This bitesize CPD unit includes a range of articles and resources on the theme of ‘learning in nature’ to deepen practitioners’ knowledge in this area. 
• This article summarises some of the research evidence around outdoor learning, exploring the benefits and barriers of ‘taking learning outdoors’ whilst also highlighting the implications of this for further research and classroom practice.
• This research review examines a range of research evidence which suggests that contact with nature is beneficial for physical and mental health, cognition and learning.
• Despite the compelling evidence, this perspective article examines the reasons why nature-based and outdoor learning still remains largely absent from the school curriculum and pedagogy.
• This case study outlining the impact of a nature-based programme delivered by Bloom. Bloom education supports schools to bring nature into the curriculum in accessible and creative ways.
• This article summarises the findings of a study that investigated what happens to pupil focus and behaviour in the classroom following an outdoor lesson in nature. The link to the original article can be found here.
• This article summarises the findings of a study that explored how the outdoor learning for a forest school influences the experience of pupils and forest school leaders.
• This article explores the evidence-base around outdoor learning…. Lockdown
• This article summarises some of the evidence around outdoor learning and the impact of this on wellbeing. 
• This study examines the impact of innovative, transdisciplinary approaches in supporting children and young people to discover their local outdoor spaces. 
• This classroom practice video demonstrates how a childminding early education setting facilitates learning together through outdoor play. 
• This classroom practice video demonstrates how a childminding early education setting develops early language and communication skills through outdoor play. 

Other resources and articles freely available from other providers

Books, research articles and evidence-based guidance reports:

• This open access book, High-Quality Outdoor Learning: Evidence-based Education Outside the Classroom for Children, Teachers and Society, reviews evidence and case studies on the effects of outdoor learning on teachers and learners.
• This report, produced by Natural England in 2016, summarises the findings of a two year pilot to develop a national indicator for children’s visits to the natural environment in England. The pilot aimed to quantify, for the first time, the scale and scope of children’s visits to the natural environment and to identify who children visit with and where they go. 
• This report, commissioned by the London Sustainable Development Commission, sets out the findings of a review into the evidential support for claims about the benefits for children of experiences with nature.  
• This report outlines the different ways that nature-based and outdoor learning can impact student outcomes. 
• This is a systematic review of the existing literature about outdoor learning.
• This research study examines the links between outdoor time in preschool and children’s cognitive and behavioural development.
• This research article examines two decades worth of research evidence pertaining to the impact of Forest School on the children involved. 
• This research article examines different ways that contact with nature can contribute to the health and well-being of children.
• This research article examines the psychological impact of ‘screen time’ vs. ‘green time’ for children and young people.
• This research article examines the benefits and challenges of implementing outdoor learning in early childhood. 
• This research project explores how arts-based nature activities in schools can support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Watch this short summary of the project here. 
• This research study examines where, how and what children play in Forest School in England compared with a Forest Kindergarten in Denmark. 
• This research study examines how children utilise features of their outdoor environment (spaces and materials) to engage in different types of play.
• This research study investigates the impact of outdoor pedagogy and children’s learning in a school ground environment. 
• This podcast series provides an overview of Gemma Goldenberg’s research – ‘Conducting research in schools: The impact of curriculum learning outdoors on urban 4-5 year olds’ stress, attention and self regulation’.
• Learning through Landscapes provides a series of research reports that demonstrate the positive impact of outdoor learning on a range of student outcomes. 
• Treescapes are currently investigating the opportunities and dis/benefits that treescapes offer children and young people, with the hypthesis that meaningful engagement with treescapes supports education, belonging and hope. Access information here.

Resources supporting curriculum development:

• The Harmony Project works with educators to put sustainability and nature at the heart of learning. They provide a wealth of high-quality resources to support teachers to develop a curriculum that is rooted in a deep understanding of, and connection to, the natural world.
• Learning through Landscapes provides a range of high-quality articles and resources to support primary practitioners with developing their approach to outdoor learning. 
• The Froebel Trust provides a range of articles and resources to support teachers to develop a nature-based approach.

Resources supporting classroom and enrichment activities:

• Treescapes have co-created lesson toolkits with school practitioners, that aim to support children to take on the role of ‘researcher’ in treescapes.
• The Natural History Museum provides resources and support to conduct a ‘BioBlitz’ of your local area. They also provide a range of high-quality teaching resources to support primary practitioners.
• The Eden Project provides a range of teaching resources to support nature-based learning in your setting. 
• The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) provides a range of activities and initiatives for you and your students to get involved with. In particular, you may wish to get involved with the Big Schools Birdwatch. It is the largest citizen science project for schools. It involves counting the number of birds in your school grounds. It only takes an hour, so one lesson or lunchtime is ideal. 
• The Woodland Trust is attempting to track the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife near you through their nature’s calendar. Record, collect and submit data with your students to help scientists analyse environmental changes over time. 
• The School Farms Network offers support and assistance to existing school-based farms and those wishing to start a new school farm (teachers, assistants and parents). It also provides a range of resources and articles to support community gardens and social farms.
• Muddy Faces’ ‘Outdoor Hub’ provides a range of resources to help with delivery of the curriculum outdoors including reports and research providing evidence of the benefits, teaching resources and guides to creating outdoor classrooms or repurposing playground spaces.
• The Children and Nature Network provides a range of high-quality resources, including toolkits, reports, infographics and advocacy tools to help connect children, families and communities to nature.
• The Tree Council’s mission is to inspire and empower schools, organisations, government, communities and individuals with the knowledge and tools to create positive, lasting change at a national and local level. In regards to children and young people, they run a series of initiatives for schools to be involved with, including the Young Tree Champions programme and even provide free packs of seeds to plant fruit trees and/or fruiting hedgerow!
• There are a number of local and regional organisations seeking to promote a greener, healthier and more sustainable future through tree planting, tree care and maintenance and outdoor, nature-based education, including City of Trees (Greater Manchester), The Mersey Forest (Merseyside and North Chesire), National Forest (Midlands) and Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.
• Forestry England provides a range of guidance, articles and teaching resources to support teachers to develop a nature-based approach in their setting. 
• The Field Studies Council provides a range of resources to support primary practitioners with outdoor learning, including resource packs to investigate changes in the high street and in the school grounds.
• Nature Premium is an advocacy group calling on the UK government to invest in a Nature Premium to fund nature experiences for all children in education.
• Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day. On two days of action each year, teachers take children outdoors to play and learn. They provide a range of high-quality teaching resources to support this.
• Plantlife’s mission is to secure a world rich in wild plants and fungi and aims to support people to connect with nature. You may wish to get involved with ‘No Mow May’.
• Produced by Chester Zoo, this toolkit and these resource packages aim to support teachers to put conservation at the heart of pupils’ learning, by putting a focus on species, habitats, ecosystems and sustainable actions we can make for the benefit of wildlife.
• Nature Scot, Scotland’s Nature Agency, provides a range of citizen science activities for you and your students to get involved with. For more information about citizen science, take a look at this BBC article.
• The Woodland Trust provides a range of resources and initiatives to support learning about trees and wildlife in your school