Outdoor Learning
Outdoor Learning at Widewell
This page celebrates some of our outdoor adventures and learning. As a school we aim to use our grounds creatively and effectively as an exciting and essential part of our curriculum.
Intent
Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in the way we do?
At Widewell Primary Academy we have a strong ethos for outdoor learning and believe that it can be used in many cross curricular areas to strengthen and deepen pupils understanding and knowledge and create real life experiences for pupils. Through outdoor learning pupils will become confident, resilient and determined learners. The children are exposed to natural environments enabling them to gain understanding and respect for the natural world and all that lives within it.
Implementation
What do we teach? What does this look like?
The whole of Widewell Primary Academy is very committed to outdoor learning therefore every class in the school has at least one designated outdoor learning session per week as well as outdoor learning being incorporated, as much as possible, into our everyday lessons. Outdoor learning is planned to enrich and enhance the children’s in-school learning experiences. This gives every pupil in the school the opportunity to enjoy and learn from our wonderful natural world on a regular basis. Children have the opportunities to learn specific outdoor skills. For example, using flint and steel to light fires to teach them about fire safety; respect for the environment, themselves and others; working within safe boundaries which they learn to recognise and manage themselves. As well as these regular experiences of the outdoor world, the school conducts special outdoor learning days allowing the children to collaborate and work with different children from different age groups in the outdoor environment.
Impact
What will this look like?
By the end of KS2 all children will have enjoyed hands on experiences learning outdoors which will add to their understanding and learning of a wide variety of curriculum areas. They will have developed imagination and creativity through exploration of the outdoors and will have developed resilience through challenging activities and working in all weathers. They also will have developed co-operation skills through team work. Pupils will have a good understanding of nature, the world around us, growing plants and vegetables and will have contributed to the development of our school grounds and looking after the world around us.
Intent
Why do we teach this? Why do we teach it in the way we do?
At Widewell Primary Academy we have a strong ethos for outdoor learning and believe that it can be used in many cross curricular areas to strengthen and deepen pupils understanding and knowledge and create real life experiences for pupils. Through outdoor learning pupils will become confident, resilient and determined learners. The children are exposed to natural environments enabling them to gain understanding and respect for the natural world and all that lives within it.
Implementation
What do we teach? What does this look like?
The whole of Widewell Primary Academy is very committed to outdoor learning therefore every class in the school has at least one designated outdoor learning session per week as well as outdoor learning being incorporated, as much as possible, into our everyday lessons. Outdoor learning is planned to enrich and enhance the children’s in-school learning experiences. This gives every pupil in the school the opportunity to enjoy and learn from our wonderful natural world on a regular basis. Children have the opportunities to learn specific outdoor skills. For example, using flint and steel to light fires to teach them about fire safety; respect for the environment, themselves and others; working within safe boundaries which they learn to recognise and manage themselves. As well as these regular experiences of the outdoor world, the school conducts special outdoor learning days allowing the children to collaborate and work with different children from different age groups in the outdoor environment.
Impact
What will this look like?
By the end of KS2 all children will have enjoyed hands on experiences learning outdoors which will add to their understanding and learning of a wide variety of curriculum areas. They will have developed imagination and creativity through exploration of the outdoors and will have developed resilience through challenging activities and working in all weathers. They also will have developed co-operation skills through team work. Pupils will have a good understanding of nature, the world around us, growing plants and vegetables and will have contributed to the development of our school grounds and looking after the world around us.
Our Field
Our Conservation Area
Our Early Years Area
Outdoor Learning Day - 5th November 2020
Early Years
Key Stage 1
Lower Key Stage 2
Upper Key Stage 2