Taking Learning Outdoors: The Benefits of Getting Outside the Classroom

When we think about learning in schools, we often picture pupils sitting at desks, working through booklets, or looking at screens. But learning does not always need to happen inside the classroom. In our ten FEL Active Travel School Hubs across the Forth Valley, we are constantly exploring how schools can make better use of local outdoor spaces and create more opportunities for pupils to learn in different ways.

Why Take Classes Outside? 

There are many benefits to offering pupils a chance to get outside. Moving around. having some fresh air and taking a break from the usual indoor school setting can help pupils see a project differently and feel more inspired or able to get involved.

Practical activities outside can encourage communication, teamwork and social connection, while giving young people the opportunity to develop confidence and skills through experience. An orienteering activity, for example, not only develops map-reading skills, but also confidence and independence, while a group game can encourage teamwork and communication.

Outdoor learning can support wellbeing too, providing space to pause and reflect, which can help pupils who are feeling overwhelmed or who might find it difficult to engage with learning.

Ideas for Outdoor Learning

It’s easy to see how some classes, such as Physical Education, naturally lend themselves to being outdoors. However, there are also plenty of opportunities to take learning outside when the activity itself is not traditionally considered an “outdoor” lesson. For example, in Geography, pupils can explore their local area, use maps to plan routes, and investigate the natural environment around their school, while Art classes can involve taking pupils outside to draw or photograph nature or their built environment. Biology lessons can make use of the school grounds to learn about plants, habitats, wildlife and biodiversity, while Mathematics can involve measuring distances, calculating pace and speed, and collecting data during a walk or cycle.

Even where a lesson does not require a specific outdoor activity, there are lots of ways that different subjects can be adapted to work outside of the classroom, giving pupils a change of scene and new way to approach the subject.

Challenges with Outdoor Learning

Our Work at FEL

For FEL, our Active Travel Hubs are about more than encouraging pupils to walk, wheel and cycle, but also about supporting pupil’s physical, social and mental wellbeing while feeling more connected to their school and local environment. By making better use of the outdoors, we can create positive learning experiences that help pupils engage with learning and develop a stronger connection with their environment.

If you’re interested in learning more about our Schools work, have a look at our Schools Hub page to see what our Active Travel officers are offering in 2026/2027 and how we’re helping young people get outside and involved in walking, wheeling and cycling across the Forth Valley.