At Whinhill, we believe strongly in Outdoor Learning as an approach to teaching and learning. Outdoor Learning is used across every class in our school as a tool to enhance and enrich the experiences of our children. These experiences are carefully designed to challenge and support learning in a variety of curricular areas and contexts.
Our Outdoor Learning Aims:
- To provide real-world contexts for all learning.
- To encourage knowledge, wonder of and concern for the natural environment.
- To offer opportunities for physical activity, freedom and movement.
- To encourage positive attitudes, beliefs and self-efficacy for our children.
- To develop out children’s independence, self-sufficiency, confidence and risk taking abilities.
- To compliment indoor learning through the use of Outdoor Learning.
Learning experiences our pupils are involved in:
- Activities within the school grounds
- Local Area facilities (on foot or using transport)
- Day-long experiences e.g. Cornalees, Finlaystone Park
- Residential experiences
Greenock Cut
Our school has a strong local connection to the Greenock Cut which is an excellent resource for our pupils to use for Outdoor Learning experiences. We are committed to using the Greenock Cut to enhance the experiences of our children.
Some of the benefits from taking learning outside are:
- connections are made experientially with the real world outside the classroom, helping to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in a meaningful context
- outdoor environments and surroundings act as a rich stimulus for creative thinking and learning. this affords opportunities for challenge, enquiry, critical thinking and reflection
- children and young people are able to understand the relevance of a subject taught in school to everyday life
- the multi-sensory experience outdoors helps children and young people to retain knowledge more effectively. there are opportunities for pupils to learn with their whole bodies on a large scale
- learning in a less structured environment can provide a different learning experience from that of the classroom
