ED3S038 - Children Learning through Landscapes 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ED3S038
Module Title: Children Learning through Landscapes
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: ITE and Education Practice
Faculty Sub Group: Early Years
Module Leader: Sallyann Seaward
Module Team: Wendy-Lee Jones
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake: 2026
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100463 - early years education
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

• To explore learning through play in an outdoor environment and how this supports children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.
• To identify and prepare opportunities for children’s learning in the outdoor environment
• To analyse the role of the adult when applying an outdoor pedagogy and identify the challenges that are faced in practice.
• To plan, deliver and reflect on outdoor play /learning opportunities for children
• To demonstrate an understanding of the environmental impact of using nature’s spaces and resources for outdoor play and sustainability
• To compare national and international approaches to outdoor learning and analyse good practice

Content Summary

Theories of Outdoor play and learning relating to children’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development; this will be supported by being able to demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver outdoor play activities that support the holistic development of children.

Design appropriate outdoor activities that relate to the Welsh curriculum.

Development of a range of practical skills and ideas that will support the preparation of safe practice when outdoors.

Application of different approaches when working with children in the outdoors which aim to promote positive behaviours outside

The resourcefulness, limitations and sustainability of different outdoor spaces, to include issues relating to health and safety.

Conduct and understand the need for risk benefits assessment in order to enable risky play for early years children.

The examination of different pedagogies and approaches which have influenced practice, currently and historically, both nationally and internationally.

The concept of sustainability and the need to create positive learning experiences which will instill in children a respect for nature and the environment, an understanding of its value, our role in caring for it and a commitment to ensuring that the benefits remain for future generations.

Reflect upon practice, providing recommendations for improvement.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 4
Tutorial 3
Practical classes and workshops 10
Independent Study 76
Placement 8
Directed Study 75
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 2
Formative Assessment - Independent 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse how outdoor learning/ play enhances children’s holistic development and justify the importance of children’s connection to nature.
LO2 Compare different approaches to outdoor learning and critically evaluate the role of the adult in supporting children in the outdoor environment.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Evaluation of outdoor practice 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1

Reading List

Beames, S. (2011) Learning Outside the Classroom: Theory and guidelines for practice. S.L. Routledge.

Fjørtoft, I. (2004) ‘Landscape as Playscape: The Effects of Natural Environments on Children’s Play and Motor Development’. Children, Youth and Environment, 14, (2), pp.21-44

Hanscom, A.J. (2016) Balanced and barefoot: how unrestricted outdoor play makes for strong, confident and capable children. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications

Harriman, H. (2006) The Outdoor Classroom. Wiltshire: Corner to Learn Ltd.

Joyce. R. (2012) Outdoor Learning: Past and Present. Open University Press.

Knight, S. (2009) Forest Schools and Outdoor Learning in the Early Years. London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Knight, S. (2011) Risk and adventure in the early years outdoor play: learning form forest schools. London. Sage.

Knight, S. (2011) Forest school for all. London: Sage

Little. H., (2010) Relationship between parents’ beliefs and their responses to children’s risk taking behaviour during outdoor play. Journal of Early Childhood Research. 8 (3) 315-330

Louv. R., (2009) Last Child in the Woods, saving our children form nature deficit disorder. London: Atlantic books.

Maynard, T. and Waters, J. (2007) ‘Learning in the Outdoor Environment: A Missed Opportunity?’ Early Years, 27, (3), pp.225-265

Moore, D. (2015) The teacher doesn’t know what it is, but she knows where we are: young children’s secret places in early childhood outdoor environments. International Journal of Play, 4 (1) pp.20-31.

Moser, T., & Martinsen, M. T. (2010). The outdoor environment in Norwegian kindergartens as pedagogical space for toddlers’ play, learning and development. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 18(4), pp.457–471.

Nedovic, S. and Morrissey, A. (2013) Calm active and focused: Children’s responses to an organic outdoor learning environment Learning Environment Research, (16) 281–295 HTPS:\\ DOI 10.1007/s10984-013-9127-9

Palmer. S. (2007) Toxic Childhood. How the modern world is damaging our children and what we can do about it. London: Orion

Pickering, S. (2017) Teaching outdoors creatively. London : Routledge.

Pritchard, A., Richardson, M., Sheffield, D., & McEwan, K. (2019). The relationship between nature connectedness and eudaimonic well-being: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Happiness Studies, pp.1–23.

Sakr, M. (2020) Digital Play in Early Childhood. London. Routledge

The National Trust (2020). Noticing Nature Report. Everyone Needs Nature. Available at : https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/everyone-needs-nature

Waters, T., Gadsby, J. and Maynard, J. (2014) Exploring outdoor play in the early years. Maidenhead : Open University Press

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT. (2007) Out of Classroom Learning: Making the Most of First Hand Experiences of the Natural Environment. Cardiff: Welsh Assembly Government.

Wales. Welsh Government (WG) (2020). A Curriculum for Wales. Cardiff .

Williams-Seigfriedsen. J. (2011) Understanding the Forest School Approach: Early years education in practice. London: Routledge.

Zelenski, J. M. & Nisbet, E. K. (2012). Happiness and feeling connected: the distinct role of nature relatedness. Journal of Environment and Behaviour, 14(1), pp.3-23.