For IVN, primary education is the place where children can discover that they are part of nature. By learning outdoors, children experience more enjoyment, concentration and movement. Through campaigns such as Outdoor Lesson Day, the tenth edition of which took place on 8 April, IVN contributes to this and shows schools and children how it can be done differently.
Mathematics and language
It is striking that outdoor lessons have gained particular momentum in subjects such as mathematics and language. Ten years ago, only 36 percent of teachers gave mathematics lessons outdoors; by now, that figure has risen to no less than 77 percent. Sixty-five percent of teachers sometimes teach language outdoors, whereas in 2016 this was only 14 percent.
This means not only that there is more interest in outdoor lessons, but also that they are entirely feasible. “It is wonderful to see that teachers are finding more creative ways to approach these subjects. Teachers themselves also recognise that spending even more time sitting behind a desk with a book in front of you will not make the difference. In this case, the saying applies: ‘what goes in outdoors, stays in better’. Outdoor lessons genuinely add something to the teacher’s toolkit, especially when it comes to automating the learning material,” says programme manager Vincent van der Veen.
Challenges
Twenty-six percent of teachers do not give outdoor lessons, while 42% of them would like to do so. The lack of a suitable outdoor space and (external) support are challenges in this regard.
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