The Muddy Puddle Teacher (MPT) approach takes outdoor learning to the next level with the Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award. These progressive courses build on foundational skills, empowering educators to integrate more advanced, creative, and impactful nature-based practices into their teaching. Each level deepens your understanding of outdoor education, aligning with curriculum goals and fostering lifelong learning skills in children. Level 1-4 Complete the award for those educators wanting all the skill sets to teach outdoors confidently and successfully all year long.
Course Costs
- Level 2-4: £450.00 one-off payment. Enrol Now.
Schools can pay by invoice. UK Schools can use sports and pupil premium.
Course Goals
- Level 2: Strengthen skills in delivering curriculum-linked outdoor activities.
- Level 3: Develop leadership in outdoor education and introduce sustainability-focused practices.
- Level 4: Master advanced outdoor learning techniques and create your unique outdoor education framework.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
Course Timelines
- Level 2: 2 hours of learning. 1-year course access.
- Level 3: 3 hours of learning. 1-year course access.
- Level 4: 4 hours of learning. 1-year course access.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
Course Modules for Each Level
Level 2 Outdoor Learning Award
Module 1: Expanding Outdoor Curriculum Integration
- Learning Objectives:
- Build on Level 1 skills to deepen curriculum links.
- Design activities for key stages across all subjects.
- Key Topics:
- Enhancing math, literacy, and science outdoors.
- Nature as a classroom: Practical examples.
- Inclusive adaptations for diverse learning needs.
Module 2: Building on Risk Assessment and Safety
- Learning Objectives:
- Advance your understanding of outdoor safety.
- Learn to involve children in creating safe environments.
- Key Topics:
- Collaborative risk assessments.
- Safety in diverse terrains and weather.
Module 3: Leading Muddy Puddle Sessions
- Learning Objectives:
- Strengthen facilitation skills for impactful sessions.
- Foster autonomy in learners.
- Key Topics:
- Leadership in outdoor education.
- Role-modeling and coaching for students.
Resources Provided:
- Advanced lesson plans and activity cards.
- Risk management templates.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
Level 3 Outdoor Learning Award
Module 1: Sustainable Outdoor Education
- Learning Objectives:
- Embed sustainability into outdoor learning.
- Teach environmental stewardship.
- Key Topics:
- Climate change education through play.
- Zero-waste practices in outdoor learning.
- Building eco-literacy in students.
Module 2: Leadership in Outdoor Education
- Learning Objectives:
- Develop leadership skills to train peers.
- Learn to advocate for outdoor education in your school.
- Key Topics:
- Creating whole-school outdoor learning strategies.
- Mentoring fellow educators in the MPT approach.
Module 3: Advanced Activity Design
- Learning Objectives:
- Create multi-sensory, inclusive activities.
- Foster creative and critical thinking skills in students.
- Key Topics:
- Sensory pathways and immersive learning.
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) in nature.
Resources Provided:
- Sustainability teaching kits.
- Leadership and mentoring guides.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
Level 4 Outdoor Learning Award
Module 1: Outdoor Education Frameworks
- Learning Objectives:
- Create your bespoke outdoor learning curriculum.
- Design long-term outdoor education programs.
- Key Topics:
- A framework design for year-round outdoor learning.
- Customizing outdoor activities for specific goals.
Module 2: Supporting SEND
- Learning Objectives:
- Refine teaching and facilitation skills.
- Foster deeper emotional and cognitive connections.
- Key Topics:
- Mindful facilitation techniques.
- Strategies for emotional resilience outdoors.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
Conclusion
Participants who complete these advanced levels will:
- Level 2:
Gain enhanced outdoor teaching skills and confidence in leading curriculum-linked sessions. - Level 3:
Become outdoor education leaders with a focus on sustainability and peer mentoring. - Level 4:
Master outdoor learning, creating customised frameworks for SEND and scaling initiatives to impact schools and communities.
Enrol in Level 2-4 Outdoor Learning Award
The Transformative Impact of Levels 2-4 Outdoor Learning Awards on Children: Muddy Puddle Teacher Approach
As education evolves, the need for meaningful, nature-based experiences has never been more urgent. The Muddy Puddle Teacher (MPT) approach to outdoor learning focuses on engaging children in creative, hands-on activities that connect them with nature. The Levels 2-4 Outdoor Learning Awards empower educators to deliver transformative lessons beyond the basics, helping children grow in ways traditional classrooms cannot.
Let’s explore how these advanced certifications profoundly impact children’s lives and learning, supported by evidence and real-world examples.
1. Enhancing Cognitive Development
Studies show that outdoor learning improves cognitive functions such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and memory. The advanced Level 2-4 awards teach educators to create complex, multi-disciplinary lessons that challenge young minds while keeping learning exciting (Outdoor Classroom Day).
For example, combining math with nature—like calculating angles using sticks or plotting graphs with leaves—sharpens academic skills while embedding them in memorable, real-world contexts.
2. Building Emotional Resilience
The MPT approach is rooted in resilience-building, teaching children to overcome challenges in a safe outdoor environment. Levels 2-4 deepen this focus by incorporating mindfulness and reflection activities that nurture emotional health (National Trust).
Outdoor spaces encourage children to manage risks, embrace failure, and adapt to new circumstances, skills they’ll carry throughout their lives.
3. Promoting Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
Through Levels 2-4 training, educators learn to instil environmental responsibility in children. Activities such as building bug hotels, creating compost bins, or exploring ecosystems teach kids to value and care for nature (WWF UK Education Resources).
As children understand sustainability, they also become future advocates for the planet.
4. Improving Physical Health
Children today are increasingly sedentary, but outdoor learning combats this by embedding physical activity into education. Advanced-level awards teach educators to plan movement-rich sessions that combine learning with exercise (World Health Organization).
From scavenger hunts to team-building games, outdoor activities boost cardiovascular health, improve coordination, and encourage lifelong healthy habits.
5. Deepening Social Skills
Collaboration is a cornerstone of outdoor learning, and the MPT method emphasizes teamwork and cooperative problem-solving. At Levels 2-4, educators gain tools to foster social skills through activities that require children to communicate, negotiate, and share responsibilities (Learning Through Landscapes).
These experiences are particularly beneficial for children struggling with social interaction in traditional classrooms.
6. Encouraging Creative Expression
Outdoor environments inspire imagination and creativity. Whether it’s crafting natural art, designing shelters, or storytelling around a tree, advanced-level activities unlock children’s creative potential (Creative STAR Learning).
Levels 2-4 equip educators with techniques to channel creativity into structured yet flexible learning opportunities, resulting in more engaged and expressive learners.
7. Supporting Inclusive Education
The advanced MPT certifications emphasize inclusivity, providing strategies to adapt outdoor activities for diverse needs. Nature-based learning allows children with various abilities to thrive, offering non-traditional ways to succeed (Forest School Association).
Outdoor settings reduce barriers, allowing every child to shine, whether they excel through tactile, sensory, or visual learning experiences.
8. Boosting Mental Health
The mental health benefits of spending time in nature are well-documented. Exposure to green spaces reduces stress, increases happiness, and improves focus (Children and Nature Network). The MPT approach integrates mindfulness and emotional well-being into outdoor learning, especially at advanced levels.
Children learn grounding techniques, such as sensory walks and nature journaling, that help them manage emotions and build emotional intelligence.
9. Enhancing Academic Achievement
Outdoor learning is not just about play—it’s about improving academic outcomes. Levels 2-4 of the Outdoor Learning Awards help educators design curriculum-linked activities that enhance traditional subjects like math, literacy, and science (Gov. uk Education Guidance).
For example, using mud and sticks to teach fractions or exploring local flora for biology lessons helps students grasp concepts more effectively.
10. Fostering a Lifelong Love of Learning
Perhaps the most profound impact of Levels 2-4 training is its ability to ignite a passion for learning. Children taught through advanced MPT methods develop curiosity and intrinsic motivation to explore the world around them (Education Endowment Foundation).
This love of discovery stays with them, influencing their academic journeys and personal lives long after they’ve left the classroom.
Why Choose Levels 2-4 Outdoor Learning Awards?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher approach offers educators a roadmap to transforming children’s educational experiences. By progressing through Levels 2-4, you’ll deepen your expertise, master innovative teaching strategies, and make a measurable impact on children’s lives.
Start your journey to advanced outdoor education today—visit the Muddy Puddle Teacher website to learn more and enrol. Let’s inspire the next generation of resilient, creative, and environmentally conscious learners.
