What is an outdoor learning environment?

A natural outdoor play and learning environment is outdoor space at an early childhood education center that includes diverse features designed to promote structured and unstructured physical activity, play, and learning.

What are the benefits of outdoor learning?

Outdoor education and play support emotional, behavioral and intellectual development. Studies have shown that students who learn outdoors develop: a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline and initiative.

What is an outdoor environment?

The outdoor area is an extension of the inside space as well as being a space in its own right. It often includes a garden where the children can grow and harvest flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. The needs of the child and the child’s plane of development are considered when planning different outdoor activities.

How does the outdoor environment enhance children’s learning?

Playing and learning outside also helps children to understand and respect nature, the environment and the interdependence of humans, animals, plants, and lifecycles. The outdoor environment offers space and therefore is particularly important to those children who learn best through active movement.

Experts say that outdoor learning is quite beneficial to students because it makes them healthier and happier, and they do better academically. The various benefits include: 1. Students who get to experience an outdoor learning environment tend to be more attentive and, therefore, have a better recollection of the information that was shared.

What are the benefits of an outdoor classroom?

Benefits of the Outdoor Classroom. Physical: An increase in physical development, capability, and activity. Setting up patterns for an active, healthy lifestyle. Fewer children suffering from diseases such as obesity, Diabetes, and ADD/ADHD.

What is the outdoor environment for children?

The purpose of an outdoor environment is to encourage children to be active, to give them a break from being indoors, and to support learning in a variety of environments. Similar to an indoor learning environment, your outdoor space should be safe and organized and include planned activities as well as free time.

What are the types of classroom environments?

This week in class we learned about the three main types of learning environments: Traditional Classrooms, Hybrid Classrooms, and Online Classrooms.