Outdoor Classroom Day, run by campaigners Learning Through Landscapes and supported by Dirt is Good, will once again celebrate Learning Outside the Classroom and the effects it has on education.
In order for schools to participate on a day that fits with term times, the UK and Ireland campaign has two dates this year: Thursday 17th May and Thursday 1st November.
Both days will promote LOtC, with the aim to encourage it throughout the year and further.
On the day, thousands of schools around the world are expected to take lessons outside and prioritise playtime. As well as having fun, the campaign will show how important and easy it is to give children more time outdoors.
In 2017, over 2 million children worldwide took part, and more than 580,000 of those were in the UK and Ireland.
What will the campaign involve?
The campaign hopes to inspire more time outdoors every day, both at school and at home. It believes that teachers have the power to inspire other teachers, parents and the wider community to give children the time, space and permission they need to play and learn outdoors. It is advocating for 90 minutes of playtime every day in every school around the world.
Outdoor Classroom Day suggests that everyone can do something to make sure children experience the benefits of being outdoors.
The website also provides teachers involved with downloadable resources such as lesson ideas and posters to help promote the campaign.
Why is outdoor learning beneficial?
When teachers take learning outdoors they report some powerful impacts such as improvements in children’s behaviour, enthusiasm to learn, and individuals who feel inhibited by the curriculum often thrive in an outdoor environment.
Play and learning outside teaches critical life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity.
The global Outdoor Classroom Day is led by Project Dirt, in partnership with Unilever as part of their Dirt is Good movement. The UK and Ireland campaign is led by the charity Learning through Landscapes, supported by Eco-Schools England and Unilever’s Persil team.
For more information, visit www.outdoorclassroomday.org.uk.
