Learning Outside the Classroom

Creative Gardening as a STEM Club Activity

by Sue Howarth

Co-authored with Linda Scott, University of Worcester.  Published in School Science Review, March 2012, 93(344) p18-22

Gardening creatively makes an engaging STEM / Science Club project all year round.  A list of organisations such... more Gardening creatively makes an engaging STEM / Science Club project all year round.  A list of organisations such as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Science and Plants in Schools (SAPS) that provide help for school pupils and teachers is provided along with examples of school gardens that have been particularly successful.

Waite, S. (2011) Teaching and learning outside the classroom: personal values, alternative pedagogies and standards, Education 3-13, 39 (1), 65-82.

by Sue Waite

The article reports on a recent survey of 334 settings in a county in the South West of England and five case studies... more The article reports on a recent survey of 334 settings in a county in the South West of England and five case studies exploring current practice and aspirations for learning outdoors for children between the ages of 2 to 11. Practitioners' aspirations for outdoor learning appear to go beyond providing fresh air and ‘letting off steam’ and include alternative pedagogies and enrichment for the curriculum. This paper critically evaluates the implications of personal values associated with the outdoors including freedom and fun; ownership and autonomy; authenticity; love of rich sensory environment and physicality for pedagogical practice. Yet, barriers to the full exploitation of the potential of outdoor learning remain and some of the tensions reported between personal values and the drive for improving standards continues in the UK are examined.

The evaluation of impact of the Schools in the Parks project on professional development and practice

by Elaine Regan