Firenze
Katri Ruohomäki
Outdoor learning:
from Urban Nature to the Great Outdoors
This fun and engaging course was designed for educators who want to uplift their teaching methodology by converting both large and small outdoor spaces into their day-to-day classrooms.
The course used various methodological approaches to make the best out of being outdoors.
This course showed us how to utilize familiar school settings such as backyards, corridors or even just a space by an open window – as extensions of the classroom.
It took us outside into the picturesque streets, parks, and natural beauty spots so we could fully experience the pedagogical, social, and mental health benefits of learning outdoors. Using various methodological approaches we learned how Project and Inquiry-based learning can make science come alive.
Experiential Learning activities awoke our reflective side and gave us space for autonomous learning, while through Multisensory Learning, we immersed ourselves in outdoor environments to better connect with and understand the natural world.
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There were 15 teachers from various European countries in the course.
It was interesting and useful to discuss common pedagogical issues with French, Hungarian, Slovenian and Greek colleagues. It seemed that the challenges at the schools across Europe are quite similar.
We visited various outdoor spots around beautiful Firenze; piazzas, small urban parks, the Community Gardens and the Botanical Garden “Orto Botanico”, the third oldest botanical garden in the world where we did “Escape Room”- activities.
Do-it-yourself activities encourage you to try outdoor learning with your own students in school
neighbourhoods too.
Here we teachers are exploring the cork oak in the botanical garden to find the answer to the escape room game questions. A little competition creates good team spirit!
We did a treasure hunt via the GooseChase app through the streets of Firenze and multi-sensory learning activities in the Community Gardens in the middle of Firenze.
We were able to collect herbs in the small tea bag and drink this tea we made ourselves in the evening. Easy little activity to awaken and use all senses
