🌿 Outdoor Woodland Learning – St Joseph’s P1–4
Our P1–4 pupils enjoyed a fantastic Outdoor Woodland Learning (OWL) session filled with curiosity, creativity, and active exploration!
We began by creating a sun diagram in the playground. Each pupil represented an hour of the day, helping us observe how shadows change as the sun moves across the sky. This hands-on activity encouraged everyone to think about time, light, and the natural world around us.
Next, we got busy with some eco-friendly planting. Using biodegradable planters, pupils carefully measured 2cm sections, folded them into quarters, and created their own pots. This practical task developed measuring skills and fine motor coordination. Once built, everyone filled their planters with compost and chose which seeds they would like to grow, showing independence and personal choice. Many pupils were so enthusiastic they made a second planter too!
We also played a fun and engaging “Deer and Fawn” listening game, where pupils tuned into the sounds of nature and counted what they could hear. This helped develop concentration, listening skills, and awareness of the environment.
Exploring further, we investigated a reed mace seed head, sparking curiosity about plant life cycles and textures. To finish, pupils took on a physical challenge which was jumping as far as a squirrel and measuring the distance. This brought numeracy into an active, outdoor context and encouraged everyone to challenge themselves.
🌍 Linking to UNCRC
This session supported several children’s rights, including:
- Article 28 – the right to education
- Article 29 – developing talents and abilities
- Article 31 – the right to play and engage in recreational activities
💖 SHANARRI Connections
Our learning supported wellbeing across:
- Healthy – active outdoor play and movement
- Achieving – developing new skills in measuring, building, and observing
- Nurtured – learning in a supportive outdoor environment
- Active – physical challenges like jumping and exploring
- Respected & Responsible – making choices and caring for nature
🧠 Meta Skills Developed
Throughout the session, pupils built important meta skills:
- Curiosity – exploring shadows, seeds, and natural objects
- Creativity – designing and building planters
- Critical Thinking – measuring, estimating, and observing changes
- Collaboration – working together in games and shared activities
- Resilience – trying new challenges and improving skills
