Improve wellbeing and go outside!
Why does going outside improve wellbeing?
- We move more when we go outside this improves our mood and health, uses excess energy and allows us to relax more when inside.
- Sensory – touching natural things
- Healthy germs in mud
- Connecting with nature
- Connecting with each other
- Less structure
- More discoveries
- Canvas changes
- Releases happy hormones
- Less confliction
- Fresh air
Subscribe with us to access all of our all-outdoor wellbeing resources including mindfulness, Muddy Yoga, Muddy Circle Time and Muddy more.
What can you do to get your school outside more?
We would love you all to train on The Muddy Puddle Teacher approach but for now, try a few of these:
- Start a walking circle first thing in the morning when parents arrive with children, they walk around the yard and watch them chat, feel good and all leave one another ready for a great day!
- Try a similar thing after school
- Ask staff to look at their Science topics is there anything in there that would be enhanced if taken outdoors?
- Send a questionnaire to staff, do they take lessons outside of not why? Get their feedback and reflect, discuss ways of moving forward.
- Improve clothing, ask parents to bring wellies in, contact charity shops for spares or put outdoor learning clothing on the uniform list.
- Hold a special outdoor learning day such as Bring a stick to school day, Ditch the plastic and much more. We have packs click on our website www.themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk
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The Muddy Puddle Teacher ®
Here are 3 top outdoor learning ideas to get you started :
- Make sure the children have the right clothing – bring a muddy bag in or dress for mud that day!
- Make it messy and muddy – why not you are outside!
- Stick to natural resources – less clearing up for you and more kind to the environment.
Our muddy resources support all curriculums and we use only natural resources so any school, anywhere can use our approach. Including Early Years Framework, NC, CfE, American Curriculums.
Looking for a group subscription? We offer big reductions for schools and nurseries that book in groups. The more staff the more the discount per person. Click here for a quote.
Outdoor learning in primary schools is an essential way to bring wellbeing to the classroom.
Here are some muddy top tips to make a start in each key stage.
- Outdoor Learning KS2 – Try taking 10-minute slots or brain breaks in between sessions. Do the Muddy Walk and Talk and just use it for general discussion or chat.
- Outdoor Learning KS1 – Try taking phonics games outside. Choose a sound and use leaves
- Outdoor Learning EYFS – If you can make sure there is an outside space that is accessible and start to reduce the plastic and have more natural objects. Such as leaves they can write on, stones to do art with. Strip back the made plastic objects and keep natural for optimum imagination and creative skills to be used.
- Outdoor Learning KS2 – Try taking 10-minute slots or brain breaks in between sessions. Do the Muddy Walk and Talk and just use it for general discussion or chat.
- Outdoor Learning KS1 – Try taking phonics games outside. Choose a sound and use leaves
- Outdoor Learning EYFS – If you can make sure there is an outside space that is accessible and start to reduce the plastic and have more natural objects. Such as leaves they can write on, stones to do art with. Strip back the made plastic objects and keep natural for optimum imagination and creative skills to be used.
For more outdoor learning ideas for primary schools, sign up for FREE! If it is active learning you are looking for try GoNoodle a great way to get kids moving inside the class.
Watch the MPT safety videos to help you practice the best outdoor learning methods. These videos are also useful for those practising forest school.
Search for more outdoor learning resources : Babies (0-2) | Tots (2-4) | EYFS (4-5) | KS1(5-7) | LKS2( 7-9) | UKS2 (9-11) | Special Needs
For Training head to: Accredited Training | Short Certificate Courses
Have you also checked: Outdoor Ebooks | Assembly Packs | Home Learning Packs | Safety Support | Special Outdoor Events
- Support Outdoor Learning charities and head to Learning through Landscapes who can help with free outdoor learning ideas.
- Institute for Outdoor Learning are also a fabulous charity to refer to if you want to gather ideas for outdoor learning training and organisations.
- Look out for Green Flag Award to promote outdoor learning in primary schools through the muddy puddles approach.
The new way to do Outdoor Learning
Teacher Training | Teaching Resources
EYFS | KS1 | KS2
