5 Tips from Educators for Newcomers to Teaching Outdoors

Teaching outside doesn’t require a formal background or special training in outdoor education. Learning through Landscapes, a UK-based charity focused on outdoor learning, play and connection with nature, recently asked educators across the pond to share their advice for those new to teaching outdoors. The organization found five tips in common that we felt were worth sharing. 

Tip 1: Start small

When trying something new, we all feel some pressure to be successful, and starting on a small scale can help teachers and their students ease into outdoor lessons. 

One primary school educator suggested starting with just a small section of your lesson plan, in a subject you’re most comfortable teaching. Another educator reminded us of the hundreds of thousands of lesson ideas available online and in books that you can use. Learning through Landscapes has hundreds of free outdoor lesson plans. Not coming up with lessons from scratch can help take the pressure off. 

Fiona MacNab, Training and Development Officer at Learning through Landscapes, suggested taking one lesson outdoors per term to get started. “It’s a realistic target, and it doesn’t put too much pressure on you to step too far out of your comfort zone. As you become more confident over time, you will naturally take more lessons outdoors.”

Tip 2: Prepare well

From lesson plans and supplies to appropriate clothing and communicating with parents, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared yourself and that you help children and parents prepare for outdoor lessons.  

One primary school educator said she teaches outside on the same day each week so her students know to arrive at school prepared to learn outdoors that day. 

Jane Mackenzie, Training and Development Officer at Learning through Landscapes, shared a helpful tip on dressing appropriately for the weather. “Children generally lose body heat faster than adults, so try to wear the same level of clothing as them. That way, when you feel cold, you know the children will start to feel cold soon, too.” 

Tip 3: Set expectations

Although less structured than sitting at a desk inside, learning outdoors is dramatically different than simply going outside for recess, and it’s important to set expectations for students from the start. 

It’s also important to give children time to transition from different learning environments so they can prepare themselves mentally and physically. 

Tip 4: Go with the flow

When you factor in the unpredictability of both children and the weather, things may not always go as planned, but don’t let that send you right back indoors. It’s good to have a backup plan, but in many cases, improvising can teach children even more than your formal lesson could have.

“Outdoors, children learn about the world in the world itself. It is very easy to initiate conversations, games, investigations … I love the constant opportunity to be creative with the unexpected, be that a snowstorm, a ladybird on a leaf, or a mysterious footprint in the mud,” says Ester, an early years educator from Cork, Ireland.

Tip 5: Don’t overthink it - just do it

We couldn’t say it better than Sasha, an early years educator from Elgin, Scotland, so we’ll conclude with her advice: “Give it a go! You’ll learn along the way, so don’t worry about making it perfect and don’t compare what you’re doing to anyone else. There is no right or wrong way to be outdoors.”

How can we help your facility be outdoors in your way? Get started with your custom outdoor learning environment today.