Teaching Climate and Sustainability in Primary Schools: An Outdoor Learning Approach

Discover the importance of climate education and outdoor learning

Children around the world are demanding comprehensive and up-to-date education on climate and sustainability. Most teachers agree climate change education should be compulsory in schools, yet many feel ill-equipped to teach it.

On this two-week course, you’ll discuss ways to embed climate awareness and sustainable practices into the life of the school. You’ll explore the importance of being outside for inspiring children and learn how to lead high-quality learning experiences outdoors.

Identify the skills to teach climate and sustainability outside

You’ll engage with a case study from a school that is developing an approach to climate and sustainability education through outdoor learning. You’ll hear from teachers about their experience of leading learning sessions outside, watch climate education in action, and reflect on your own working practices.

Collaborate and develop an action plan for your own teaching practices

You’ll have the opportunity to build a plan for your own teaching or to help make a wider impact at the whole school level.

You’ll have the space to share your experiences and ideas about teaching climate and sustainability and collaborate with others on the course to discuss how to facilitate this learning outside in an effective way.

Learn from the experts at the University of Reading

This course has been developed by The University of Reading, one of the world’s leading centres for the study of climate. On this course, you’ll hear from experts in outdoor learning and meteorology and explore resources for raising awareness and action through climate education outdoors.

This course will inspire you to start implementing climate and sustainability learning outdoors within your own school, helping you and your pupils pioneer a better tomorrow.

This course is designed for primary school teachers who want to incorporate climate and sustainability into their teaching. It will also be particularly helpful for those who lead on climate and sustainability education and/or outdoor learning in a school or are looking for opportunities to build their skills and knowledge for such a role in the future.

Course image©Gi Dais, Taking the first steps outside.

• Climate
• Welcome to the course
• Why outdoors?
• Creating school buy-in
• Understanding climate, weather and seasons
• Your power as an educator
• Sustainability
• Empowering children
• Example 1: the food production system
• Example 2: waste - focusing on food waste
• Taking action