Helen Bilton Professor of Outdoor Play and Learning University of Reading
Monday, February 28, 2022
Helen Bilton explains how the University of Reading developed a free online course to help children care for the planet.
Climate change is one major issue facing the planet. Many educators want to emphasize this to our students and encourage them to act. However, it can feel overwhelming not knowing where or how to begin.
We at the University of Reading have created an online course to help schools and other settings incorporate climate learning into their curriculum and empower children to take action to improve the environment.
We didn’t intend to create a guideline for climate education (every school is different). Instead, we have created a space where teachers can discuss examples from nurseries or case study schools and share their ideas. We hope everyone leaves the course with a better understanding of the subject and a greater sense of hope.
This course takes six hours to complete and explores sustainability and teaching climate through outdoor learning. This is because:
To care for the planet, you must love it. It is necessary to love it. It is important to spend time outdoors in order to be a part. This will allow you to appreciate the fragility and power of the world. Outdoor learning is a must for children.
Participants will learn how to inspire children outdoors and how to create high-quality outdoor learning experiences. Participants will be inspired by videos of children learning outdoors at Wokingham’s partner school. They will also see why outdoor education is a way for children to connect with climate and sustainability emotionally, physically, and academically. We interviewed the children for the course highlight:
You can touch the trees. You can’t touch the trees in books, you’re just looking at pictures.
In the first section, we discuss the benefits and challenges of outdoor learning. Next, we explore ideas for activities related to seasons, climate change, and contributing to scientific investigations. We consider the power of individuals and how small changes can make all the difference. We suggest that educators keep track of their ideas and plans as they develop.
The second part of the course focuses on how children can be empowered to care for the natural world. It also shares ideas for exploring sustainability issues through children’s outdoor activities. The course ends with a plan of how to test ideas with the children.
The school serves children from 4-11 years old. A lot of the school’s work is inspired by the wonderful influences and knowledge from early years education. For example, the children play a daily weather monitor game to help them learn how to be outdoors in all kinds of weather.
While I was there, the children made ice mobiles and moved bark chipspings to cover a patch of ground that is always getting waterlogged. According to one teacher from the school’s early years,
Young children are much more aware of climate change than adults and the events happening around them. They provide a unique perspective. I think that teaching children about climate change from a young ages will help them take responsibility for their entire lives and then be able to educate others.
The school does not claim to have all the answers. They just take us along on their journey. They are open to any ideas and are eager to hear from those who take the course.
The Department for Education is currently finalizing its Sustainability and Climate Change Draft Strategy for the education and childrens services systems. In which schools and settings will play a key role in teaching about sustainability and climate change,
TheDfE aims at creating a virtual National Education Nature Park, (NENP), of all outdoor spaces in educational institutions. This will improve biodiversity and establish a Climate Leaders Award to recognize education providers and children who are developing their connection to nature.
Although a national strategy is important for climate education, this course demonstrates that teachers can make a positive difference as individuals by doing one thing well.
This approach is more manageable and participants will feel more comfortable teaching climate and sustainability outdoors. We also hope that they will enjoy their job and feel better.
Anyone can join the course for free Here