We were lucky once again to have a wonderful day for Outdoor Classroom Day!
Outdoor Classroom Day was started back in 2012 by a group of schools in London to encourage schools to get outside and learn, it is now a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor learning and play. So, just before half term, on a glorious “we couldn’t have planned it better” sunny day, MHS children from Nursery right up to Year 8 joined over 2 million other children worldwide by taking their learning outside. And what a fantastic day it was! We all know the benefits of learning together in the great outdoors; behaviour improves, children are excited and inspired by nature, it encourages critical life skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, resilience, collaboration and creativity. We also know that children who sometimes feel inhibited by the curriculum often thrive in an outdoor environment and it is up to us to create these opportunities.
It was so wonderful to see these virtues and experiences coming to life all over our grounds. From weather measuring and recording, revision treasure hunts to speaking and listening games in Spanish and French done by the older children. To 3D nets, stick man direct speech, Robin Hood profiles, planting and rainforest dioramas in the Middle School. To big balloon tennis, forest bathing and reading activities with the younger ones, we saw heightened levels of engagement and pure delight from start to finish. Outdoor lunch was enjoyed by all, reading in a tent was fabulous and lying on the grass looking up through the trees was a very therapeutic and mindful experience, something we all need a little more of in our busy lives!
The really little ones loved seeing the older children having their lessons outside, it gave them a lovely insight into the rest of the school and what they have to look forward to!
Borrowing words from our own Mrs Edmondson, the day was a perfect way to remind our children that learning is not just about books and boards but about challenges and opportunities, something that is integral to the experiences we wish to create for the children.
Thank you to all the staff for embracing this Outdoor Learning Day once again!