This week, our blog post comes from the fantastic folk over at Muse Wellbeing who have been thinking about different ways to integrate outdoor education into your PSHE curriculum. Once you’ve read it, do go and check out the awesome free resources that they offer to schools and educators!
Incorporating outdoor education into Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education provides opportunities for enhancing the student learning experience. Outdoor learning can foster the development of essential life skills as well as emotional and social wellbeing. With a PSHE curriculum that incorporates experiences in nature, schools can provide students with firsthand experiences that deepen their understanding of crucial PSHE topics and, perhaps more importantly, promote overall student wellbeing.
With a promotion of mindfulness and stress relief to cultivating physical health and environmental awareness, outdoor learning can transform the way students engage with the PSHE curriculum on offer in your school.
Benefits of Outdoor Learning for Emotional and Social Development
Learning outside the classroom allows for a variety of key tools for promoting emotional and social development in students. Spending time in nature helps reduce stress and anxiety, creating a more relaxed environment — both while outside and leading to an improved classroom atmosphere when they return to indoor learning — where students can connect with their emotions and each other. Students engaging in group activities outdoors can cultivate their social skills with their peers, including through collaboration, communication and problem-solving. These help students build stronger relationships with their peers and wider social circles.
After leaving school and entering the ‘real world’, many former students consider their school curricula as having been too abstract and lacking in application to the reality of life after school. However, with outdoor learning, students can practice social skills in real-world situations. Team-building exercises, group discussions, nature exploration and other outdoor activities foster a sense of community and give students the space to learn how to work together effectively. This cultivates the development of empathy and respect for others, which are crucial elements of the PSHE curriculum. With the non-traditional classroom putting these skills into a more memorable experience and with a sharper focus, students gain a deeper understanding of how to apply them in everyday life, both in and outside school.
For more information on how to integrate emotional and social development into the PSHE curriculum, please take some time to explore the resources available at Muse Wellbeing, which offers tailored lesson plans that incorporate both outdoor and classroom-based activities.
Using Nature Walks to Teach Mindfulness and Stress Relief
Mindfulness is an essential part of modern PSHE education. What this means is teaching students the methods for identifying and managing their emotions and reducing stress. Teachers can take their students on nature walks which provide an ideal opportunity for students to use the mindfulness techniques looked at in their PSHE courses, as they offer a calm and peaceful environment that encourages de-stressing and self-reflection.
During a nature walk, students can focus on the natural surroundings in which they find themselves, taking to heart the sights, sounds and smells of the natural world. This mindfulness activity helps students stay present in the moment, which can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Teachers can guide students through mindfulness exercises during the walk, such as deep breathing or grounding techniques, to help them develop coping mechanisms for managing stress at that moment and more broadly in their daily lives.
Additionally, on nature walks, PSHE teachers can use them as a platform and opportunity for group discussions on PSHE topics such as emotional health and wellbeing. By connecting with nature and each other, students can learn to further express their emotions in a supportive environment both in school and in their shared communities. Integrating mindfulness into outdoor activities not only supports the students’ mental health but also aligns with PSHE goals of fostering emotional resilience and self-awareness.
Promoting Physical Health Through Outdoor Play and Exercise
Promoting physical health is a critical component of PSHE education, and it goes without question that outdoor learning provides numerous opportunities for promoting healthy habits. Regular physical activity is linked to better mental and physical wellbeing, with outdoor exercise in particular providing additional benefits. According to the World Health Organization, children and adolescents should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily to maintain good health.
Outdoor play and exercise help students develop overall strength, coordination and endurance, all of which contribute to their health in the physical, mental and social realms. Activities such as obstacle courses, team sports and group games promote not only physical fitness but also teamwork and social interaction, reinforcing key PSHE themes. Furthermore, outdoor activity boosts self-esteem and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, further supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing.
Linking Environmental Awareness to PSHE Curriculum Goals
Environmental awareness is a growing concern in today’s world, both among the wider population and within the student body, and outdoor PSHE education provides an excellent opportunity to teach students about the importance of caring for the environment. PSHE teachers can take the opportunity to use outdoor learning experiences as an ideal way to engage students in discussions about sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Getting down and dirty with activities such as planting gardens, maintaining school grounds or participating in local conservation projects provides students with the opportunity to learn about the impact of human actions on the environment. Outdoor activities such as these not only teach important environmental concepts but also foster a sense of responsibility, stewardship and pride in the cultivation and maintenance of their school and local area, encouraging students to take an active role in protecting the planet.
Incorporating such environmental awareness and stewardship of the students’ surroundings into PSHE lessons also supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. PSHE teachers can leverage the opportunity to encourage students to think about how their actions affect their local surroundings, the wider human impact on the environment and to consider solutions to potential environmental challenges. All of these contributions and skills gained align with the broader goals of PSHE, which aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions and contribute positively to society.
Conclusion
Outdoor education encourages students to develop essential life skills, such as collaboration, resilience and empathy, all of which are key components of PSHE. For more resources and ideas on how to enhance PSHE education through outdoor learning, please take some time to explore the offerings at Muse Wellbeing, a website with materials dedicated to supporting the PSHE curriculum in UK schools.
These approaches ensure that students are equipped with the tools they need to thrive both in school and in life outside and after school, creating a foundation for healthy, happy futures.
Author: Muse Wellbeing Team
Date: Wednesday 16th October 2024
