a Bene ts of Teaching Class Outside by spatterson | Apr 14, 2021 | education, stephen patterson
Outdoor play has been proven to be an essential component of learning, and the events of 2020 changed the landscape of how educators view the importance of letting pupils explore the world. There was a lot of uncertainty throughout the past year, with educators needing to quickly alter teaching methods every week. The CDC advised going outdoors with caution, and some of the models of education that ourished included homeschooling, virtual education, micro-schools, and forest schools. Outdoor learning has already long been embraced by Maria Montessori’s teachings and the Waldorf-Steiner approach to education. Both methodologies believe teachers should be present as facilitators and guides, but the learning is child-led, enjoyable, purposeful, and playbased. Rudolf Steiner believed in developing students’ life skills using a holistic manner, using nature and the world around us. Montessori schools believe in nature as an extension of the classroom in order to understand and appreciate the Earth’s harmony, order, and beauty. Forest schools, which originated in Denmark, follow a similar stance.