Outdoor learning

Outdoor play can help develop the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence

Outdoor Play provides opportunities for children to develop their capacities as successful learners, responsible citizens, confident individuals and effective contributors - the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence.

Successful learners

Talking to and listening to others about ideas, plans and what has been discovered
Exploring new contexts and materials
Enjoyment and satisfaction
Planning their own learning and play
Enjoying and engaging with new technology, environments and opportunities
Problem solving and testing new strategies
Learning collaboratively and co-operatively with other children and adults
Learning about the natural world and the environment
Thinking creatively, with others and independently
Applying new skills and knowledge across contexts
Using tools and equipment to build, dig and create

Confident individuals

Enjoyment of their own physical abilities
Developing a sense of physical and emotional wellbeing and health
Learning their own limitations
Finding out about staying safe and helping others to be safe
Experimenting and taking risks
Feeling comfortable and supported when trying new challenges
Determination and resilience in the face of difficulty
Making choices and decisions

Responsible citizens

Taking care of and considering others within the outdoor environment
Learning about looking after their own health and wellbeing - staying safe in the sun, dressing up warmly in the cold, looking out for hazards, etc
Helping in the planning and organising of outdoor areas
Respecting their own strengths and limitations, and those of others
Persevering and persisting with an interest or challenge
Becoming increasingly independent and self-sufficient, able to seek help or support when needed
Contributing ideas, suggestions and opinions
Expressing feelings, needs and preferences

Effective contributors

Co-operating and collaborating with others
Devising plans and strategies to improve outdoor areas
Listening to and responding to instructions
Following through plans and working through challenges
Using their own initiative
Learning to share and take turns
Learning to support others

Outdoor learning resources

Search our database to find resources to support outdoor learning (many are free downloads).