Science Outdoors: Inspiring Curiosity Through Nature with Dr Sai Pathmanathan and Dr Penny Fletcher
At The Muddy Puddle Teacher Podcast, we love conversations that remind us learning doesn’t need four walls — and this episode does exactly that.
In this inspiring discussion, we are joined by Dr Sai Pathmanathan and Dr Penny Fletcher, two passionate advocates for outdoor science, curiosity-led learning and meaningful child-centred experiences that connect children with the world around them.
Together, Sai and Penny are on a mission to help educators, parents and practitioners see science differently — not as something confined to worksheets, experiments in trays or classroom topics, but as something living, breathing and happening all around us.
From muddy puddles and growing vegetables to shadows, insects, weather and natural materials, science truly is everywhere. Learn more about what outdoor learning looks like in school settings.
Listen to the teacher podcast episode with Penny here.
Meet Sai and Penny
Dr Sai Pathmanathan is a science education consultant and former neuroscientist with a passion for making science accessible, engaging and exciting for children of all ages. Alongside her work in education, Sai champions hands-on, curiosity-led learning experiences that inspire children to ask questions, investigate and wonder.
Dr Penny Fletcher brings expertise in ecology, science communication and environmental education. Her passion lies in helping children connect with nature, sustainability and outdoor exploration in meaningful, memorable ways.
Together, they co-created the Little Growers’ Club, a project born during lockdown that encouraged children and families to explore gardening, food growing and science through practical outdoor experiences.
Their shared belief? That children learn best when they can explore, investigate and experience the world for themselves.
Why Science Outdoors Matters
One of the key themes explored in this episode is the importance of taking science outdoors.
For many educators, science can sometimes feel intimidating — especially in the early years and primary settings where confidence in teaching STEM may vary. Sai and Penny challenge this idea beautifully by reframing science as simple observation, curiosity and exploration.
Science outdoors is not always about expensive equipment or complicated experiments.
It can be:
- Watching worms move through soil
- Observing changing shadows
- Growing seeds and noticing change over time
- Exploring puddles after rain
- Talking about textures, temperature and movement
- Asking “What do you notice?” and “What do you think will happen?”
In other words — science begins with curiosity.
Outdoor learning naturally provides rich opportunities for children to ask questions, test ideas and develop problem-solving skills in authentic ways.
The Power of Curiosity-Led Learning
Throughout the episode, Sai and Penny share why child-led, curiosity-driven experiences are essential.
Rather than providing answers immediately, they encourage adults to nurture questioning.
Instead of:
“Here is the answer.”
We can begin asking:
- What do you think?
- Why do you think that happened?
- What do you notice?
- What might happen next?
This simple shift helps children become investigators, thinkers and active learners.
Curiosity builds confidence — and confidence builds engagement.
Bringing STEM into Everyday Outdoor Learning
A huge takeaway from this conversation is that STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) does not need to feel complicated.
In fact, many of the best STEM opportunities happen naturally through play.
Think about:
Water Play
Children explore floating, sinking, pouring, capacity and movement.
Building Outdoors
Using crates, sticks, logs and loose parts encourages engineering, problem-solving and teamwork.
Gardening
Planting seeds introduces biology, life cycles, measurement, observation and environmental awareness.
Nature Exploration
Leaves, insects, mud, shadows, weather and natural materials provide endless scientific opportunities.
Outdoor learning allows STEM to feel meaningful because children experience it with their whole bodies.
A Creative Approach to Teaching Science Outdoors
Sai and Penny are also the co-authors of the brilliant book, A Creative Approach to Teaching Science Outdoors, which offers practical, curriculum-linked ideas to help educators bring science learning outside.
The book is packed with inspiring activities, creative provocations and low-cost ways to make science active, playful and engaging.
It encourages educators to feel confident using outdoor spaces as extensions of the classroom while helping children develop scientific thinking through exploration and discovery.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
Here are some of our favourite reminders from this conversation:
✔ Science is already happening all around us
✔ Outdoor learning creates authentic scientific experiences
✔ Curiosity matters more than knowing the “right answer”
✔ STEM can begin in the earliest years through play
✔ Nature provides endless opportunities for observation and investigation
✔ Educators do not need expensive resources to teach meaningful science
Most importantly, Sai and Penny remind us that science starts with wonder.
And children are naturally full of it.
Listen to the Episode
If you’re looking for inspiration to bring more science outdoors, nurture curiosity and help children engage with STEM in meaningful ways, this episode is packed with practical ideas and encouragement. Listen in now.
You can also follow their work on Instagram:
Sai: @sai_path
Penny: @Pennyplop7
This episode will leave you inspired to slow down, notice more, ask better questions and embrace the incredible science already happening in the world around us. For more outdoor ideas, check out our Ultimate 100 Outdoor Learning Activities that any child can do.
