Nature Nurtures: Help Pupils Connect To The Planet During Covid-19
It’s simple: being in nature makes us feel better. And under Covid-19, that’s more important than ever for our students. From planting a tin of herbs to becoming an endorsed Forest School, every school can do something to get pupils outside and happy.
Need inspiration? Read on…
Nature-Deficit Disorder
This is the idea that humans, especially children, are exhibiting greater behavioural and emotional problems due to less time spent outdoors. The disorder is not formally recognised – but exercise, a sense of freedom, risk-taking, observing wildlife and being connected to something other than a console, brings them alive in a way that cannot be replicated indoors. So getting outside as much as possible now makes sense.
Forest Schools
Mark Adkins, Forest School leader at Wincheap Foundation Primary School, Canterbury, is resolute about the importance of connecting to the ‘outside’ – especially during a global pandemic. And every little helps…
Have all children had the same outdoor experiences during Covid-19?
Understandably, there was fear, so families stayed safe. The negative side is that kids have had to do the majority of learning cooped up. As well as school work, their social spaces were virtual, and so there has been a lot of time plugged into screens, with the added ‘niggle’ of constant notifications and no calm time. Some simply got out of the ‘outdoors’ habit.
A positive is that families who appreciate the ‘outdoors’ and had the opportunity, could embrace it more – getting out when they could. There’s even value to stopping and going for a simple walk.
What can schools do?
The first thing to remember is that you can do something – however small. In some schools, this might involve a short walk to a green space. Make the most of what you have;
there is no prescribed right or wrong, especially at the moment. What are your resources, what are your needs? It could just be a mindful moment outside – breathing and listening. Don’t be scared to ‘sacrifice’ classroom time: there is often potential to consolidate and teach the curriculum outside.
Respect for Environment
I always try to communicate with the kids to respect what we have: no picking of plants for the sake of it. If there is a purpose, then we can - whittling skewers, for example, for cooking on a fire. It’s a balance between us looking after nature, and nature looking after us.
Benefits
It isn’t a golden wand, but in Forest School, you encourage the whole growth of the child – not just the academic side. Being in the outdoors can help them find space and calm.
Children are enthusiastic and positive; it promotes a culture of enjoyment, trying and suggesting ideas themselves. It’s also a space free from fear or temptations, where collaborating and togetherness within the outdoors is everything.
In the Curriculum
Forest School underpins what is happening in the classroom. With a Year 4 class, we had lots of fun making and eating marshmallows, bananas and chocolate – which links with ‘inside’ class they are learning about states of matter. Year 6 worked together in groups to build a North American traditional sledge to carry logs.
Do pupils appreciate it?
It’s so good to have them back! The kids were excited; it was something they really missed because it was part of their school week. We had to shut down for a while, but school made it a priority and put planning into place with lots of spraying tools, wiping hands and cleaning things down. We have excellent guidelines in place.
Has Covid-19 changed about our relationship with the planet?
The pandemic is affecting us right here and now, but climate change is still there. People from Prince Charles to Bill Gates - and numerous others - have spoken about it: long term, climate change is by far the bigger threat to humanity.
The School Garden
The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) isn’t just there for gardeners already a whizz with seeds and weeds. The RHS Campaign for School Gardening aims to inspire and support schools to provide children with gardening opportunities to enhance their skills and boost their development. Why? Because they believe it has multiple benefits:
- Improves physical and mental well-being
- Builds life skills such as confidence, teamwork and communication
- Enhances literacy, numeracy and oral skills
- Enriches the entire curriculum from science, maths and geography, to art, design and languages
- Encourages a better and healthier lifestyle
- Teaches about the environment and sustainability
- Helps young people engage with their surroundings better and develop a sense of responsibility
Don’t have a school garden? Don’t have time? The site is packed with ways to start off simply – such as pebble painting and herbs in tin cans - right up to applying for one of its 5 levels of School Gardening Awards (the first is about your plans, not what you have actually done). It also integrates ideas with the curriculum and has a wide variety of worksheets, so no excuses there. Running courses (in non-Covid time) and its competitions are still open. You can visit schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk to find out more.
Inequality of Access
Forest Schools Association (FSA) is a recognised Forest School Provider. It believes there are huge benefits to children in accessing nature, including feeling more refreshed, revitalised and calm. There are even broader advantages, including greater life satisfaction, more self-worth and happiness, less anxiety, better resilience and reduced obesity. It also notes that not all children respond to organised games for exercise, and that lockdown has exacerbated what was already a mental health crisis for young people.
The association also points out there is an inequality in access to the natural world for pupils, and reports an increase in public interest in finding FSA recognised forest school provision for pupils. It is calling for a Nature Premium to finance ways to fund regular experiences in nature for every child – with FSA Chair saying, “We believe that the Nature Premium would improve children’s mental and physical wellbeing after lockdown and demonstrate a positive investment in their future development as part of the Green Recovery.”
ForestSchoolsAssociation.org
Other Inspiration
Eco-Schools
Eco-Schools is part of Keep Britain Tidy, with a drive for pupil-led change. They offer free resources and are currently still open to assist. Aim to complete both bronze and silver awards and then progress to Eco-Schools Green Flag.
In Summary:
- Being in nature benefits mental health
- Covid-19 has restricted pupils’ access outside
- School gardens and Forest Schools are ways to give access to pupils
- There are simple opportunities for connecting to nature
- The curriculum can be covered
- There is inequality of access to nature and the outdoors