There will be lots of outdoor activities going on this term as the summer holiday draws near. The Guardian Teacher Network has resources to help teachers develop outdoor learning throughout the year.
As the term draws to an end, there is more outdoor learning going on than usual. For those interested in developing outdoor learning further throughout the academic year, the Guardian Teacher Network has some resources to help. First, there is a project to start this summer and then continue next term and beyond. The Geography Collective (a partnership of over 25 teachers and educators) has developed some outdoor learning activities as part of the Mission Explore website and online summer camp. First, find a schools' guide to getting involved. Now check out these 51 amazing outdoor missions that will challenge young people to go wild this summer and create some fantastic new outdoor learning opportunities.
See also a set of activities to help young people follow in the footsteps of nature conservation's father figure, John Muir. Mission Explore John Muir is packed with great ideas, from getting windswept to going barefoot, to making a trail and staring at the stars. Pupils also get to learn more about the late John Muir himself.
Also highly recommended is Project Dirt, which has been set up to connect and encourage green projects across the country.
School farms are a wonderful way for young people to learn outdoors, and you don't need acres of land to set one up. Thanks so much to the School Farms Network for sharing a really useful set of resources to help schools get farming. Gardening without land explains how it is possible for even urban schools with very limited space to grow plants and raise animals.
Or, if your school has access to a bit of ground, check out Growing in a small area of land, which includes advice on composting, plant sales and creating small ponds.
There is a Producing vegetables activity on growing plants and the differences between organic and inorganic production and methods of crop cultivation. And for some tried and tested ideas, see funding and fundraising for your school farms.
This resource on simple horticultural activities and small animal care explains how to cultivate land and raise some small animals indoors, including rabbits and guinea pigs. Or try this resource: growing in a heated greenhouse and raising chickens.
Once your school has some experience of keeping small animals and growing food plants, Enterprise horticulture and animal care gives guidance on growing commercially and advice on rearing goats, calves, piglets, bees or sheep. Here are some case studies on Keeping Kunekune pigs and rabbits in a primary school setting for extra inspiration.
Ambitious schools are rearing adult alpaca, cattle and pigs as well as growing animal food. It is even possible to develop farming skills further and keep horses or breed farm livestock. Find out more in Small-scale farm enterprises.
There are now 100 schools in the UK with working school farms. Do read about the benefits a school farm brings to a school, its teachers, students and the local community. As a taster to starting your own farm, check out the mobile farm experience.
The Wildlife Trusts has a number of great ideas for outdoor learning, including Build a mini pond, how to build a bumblebee nest, making an insect hotel, and creating a wildlife environment in a pot. The Woodland Trust's Nature Detectives has shared this mini-beast spotter sheet and their charming woodland log booklet, which helps children to think about and record what they see, hear, smell and touch on a woodland adventure.
The Forest School learning approach sits within and complements the wider context of woodland education and your school doesn't have to be in the middle of a forest to be part of this inspirational process. Teachers can find out more about joining the Forest School Association and taking part in training opportunities.
Thanks to Archimedes Forest Schools for sharing some useful resources on the Guardian Teacher Network. First, what is Forest Schools? See these fascinating case studies of two primary Forest Schools programmes in Derbyshire. This resource on how social forestry is a wonder for young people and adults also makes interesting reading.
The Guardian Teacher Network has also published a number of blogs on outdoor eduation. See this one on how outdoor play inspires independent learning for early years and Jo Ling on her experience of the Forest Schools approach.
The Eden Project has shared a fun hands-on activity in which children use team work to build mini-shelters from outdoor materials. Find also a lesson on using their senses to look, listen and touch their way around outdoor space and search for minibeasts plus explore magic potions.
If you're in the area, Exmoor National Park has developed this Moorland classroom and a suite of online resources everyone can use. It's also well worth getting in touch with the Institute for Outdoor Learning.
Finally, for advice on staying safe outdoors, the Child Accident Prevention Trust has produced this key stage 2 lesson plan on outdoor safety.
