Early Years

Exploring Outdoor Learning

06/06/2025|3 min read

Today I wanted to talk to you about something as simple and powerful as playing outside. ☀️

When you head out to the playground, the woods, or the park, it’s not only the daily classroom setting that changes; you’re also opening the door to a world filled with learning.

Why is Outdoor Learning important?

Moving around, engaging with nature, interacting with the environment… all this sparks unique connections. 👏 What’s more, even though it may not be obvious at first, math is out there, too: when students count jumps, compare the heights of their sandcastles, distribute pebbles or sticks for a game, follow paths, measure distances, or establish rules involving turn-taking and timing. Children use and discover math to understand the world around them.

Sometimes, all you need to do is pause for a moment to take in everything that’s going on: estimating, counting, patterns, correspondence, spatial orientation, and lots more! The outdoors becomes the perfect setting for experiencing math through movement, action, and emotion.

And the best thing is that there’s no need to force anything: students learn as they play, run, get organized, and collaborate. Your role is to offer rich contexts, a variety of materials, and the time for all that learning to blossom. 🌺

Examples of learning through outdoor play

For example, in the Spaces session “Land Art – Goldsworthy,” natural objects are used as sculptural materials. Using the artist’s work as inspiration, students explore their surroundings: leaves, branches, pebbles, dirt, water, flowers, and more.

The idea is simple yet powerful: go outside—to the park, the playground, or a nearby green space—and explore, observe, and create. You can help your students discover the mathematical meaning behind their actions.

When they collect materials, sort them by size, color, or texture, arrange them based on patterns and symmetry, create shapes, build stable structures, and explore balance, they’re putting geometry, measurement, proportion, and pattern-related knowledge into practice!

You can also ask questions to help them put their ideas into words 💭: “How did you decide on this order?”, “How many times does this shape repeat?”, “What happens if you change direction?”, “How did you secure this structure?”

In addition, these activities don’t just spark creativity; they also encourage engagement, sensitivity, and respect for nature and its rhythms. Working with natural, ever-changing materials teaches students to let go of control, collaborate with others, and see their surroundings from a different perspective. 🌳🌱

So, the next time you go outside, pay close attention! There might just be a wonderful math lesson happening right there… even if you’re not sitting in a circle with structured materials! 😉

Do you have any outdoors math experiences you’d like to share?

I’d love to hear about them!

Big hug,

Judith

Judith’s Letters

Are you passionate about early childhood education and eager to support little ones in their journey through the world of mathematics?

Each month, I write a letter specially crafted for teachers like you—who embrace the classroom with both excitement and challenges ✨.

I send it personally by email, filled with ideas, resources, and reflections to support you in teaching math in early childhood with meaning and warmth.
Many teachers are already receiving them—and in fact, they inspire me with everything they share. It’s a living exchange, where we all keep learning 💜.

If you’d like to receive these letters, just click here and they’ll arrive in your inbox each month.