WATCH: Not all classrooms have four walls
Celebrate Outdoor Classroom Day on 17 May
Is your school taking part in Outdoor Classroom Day?
The statistics are shocking: 74% of children spend less time outdoors than the 60 minutes recommended for prison inmates.
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign started with the aim to fix this by celebrating and inspiring outdoor learning and play.
This year’s Outdoor Classroom Day is on Thursday, 17 May.
On the day, thousands of schools around the world engage in outdoor lessons and prioritise playtime.
Last year, more than 2 million children from over 100 countries participated.
In South Africa there are already 275 schools signed up to take part in this year’s Outdoor Classroom Day.
Will your school join in?
Spending time outdoors is as important for children’s development as learning to read and write.
The benefits of outdoor learning:
• Improves children’s health
• Better teacher-learner engagement
• Improved concentration
• Enhanced problem solving
• Develops teamwork skills
Play not only teaches critical life skills such as resilience, teamwork and creativity, but is central to children’s enjoyment of childhood.
When teachers take learning outdoors they report some powerful impacts. Children’s behaviour improves, whole classes are excited to learn, and individuals who feel inhibited by the curriculum often thrive in an outdoor environment.
When adults think back to their own happiest memories of childhood, they frequently recall the joy of playing outdoors.
Play is not only central to children’s enjoyment of childhood, but teaches critical life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.
Get involved
• Visit https://outdoorclassroomday.com/
• Sign up your school
• Check out their resources (outdoor activity ideas, lesson plans and advice) and share yours
• Take your class outdoors on the day
• Share your experiences
Outdoor Classroom Day will hopefully act as a catalyst for more time outdoors every day.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
