An outdoor learning activity to promote the health benefits of using green spaces. It includes a visitor questionnaire, health diary and drawing and interpreting graphs. Two of the lessons are classroom-based, however the other lesson is an outdoor field trip that encourages the learners to put into practise what they have learned in the first lesson.

Learning outcomes

• HWB 3-25a: I am experiencing enjoyment and achievement on a daily basis by taking part in different kinds of energetic physical activities of my choosing, including sport and opportunities for outdoor learning, available at my place of learning and in the wider community.
• HWB 3-27a: I can explain why I need to be active on a daily basis to maintain good health and try to achieve a good balance of sleep, rest and physical activity.
• MTH 2-12d: Having investigated where, why and how scale is used and expressed, I can apply my understanding to interpret simple models, maps and plans.
• SOC 3-14a: I can use a range of maps and geographical information systems to gather, interpret and present conclusions and can locate a range of features within Scotland, UK, Europe and the wider world.
• MTH 3-21a: I can display data in a clear way using a suitable scale, by choosing appropriately from an extended range of tables, charts, diagrams and graphs, making effective use of technology.

In this resource

This resource bundle includes pdf and editable versions of the following:

• Lesson 1
  • Lesson 1 Practitioner Guide: a guide detailing the lesson and how to deliver it. Includes the learning objectives and a list of the activities to be carried out during the lesson (with approximate timings for each of the activities).
  • Lesson 1 Presentation: a PowerPoint presentation for the first lesson, covering the health benefits of being outdoors and introducing the Health Diary.
  • Lesson 1 Slide Notes: a set of presenter notes to accompany Lesson 1 Presentation, featuring small images of the slides and the presenter notes alongside them.
  • Lesson 1 Health Diary: a single page questionnaire-style form that learners can complete each day to track their progress as a Health Diary. Multiple sheets can be printed to enable the diary to be used for more than a single day.
• Lesson 2
  • Lesson 2 Practitioner Guide: a guide detailing the interactive field trip and how to deliver it. Includes the learning objectives, an equipment list and a summary of the activities to be carried out during the trip.
  • Lesson 2 Visitor Questionnaire: a single page questionnaire to be used by pupils on the field trip to collect information from members of the public. The format of the questions is similar to the questions the pupils must answer in their Health Diaries.
  • Lesson 2 How to Draw a Field Sketch: a step-by-step guide to drawing a field sketch (one of the activities on the field trip)
  • Lesson 2 Pupil Workbook: a five-page workbook detailing the activities that learners should complete on the field trip
• Lesson 3
  • Lesson 3 Practitioner Guide: a guide detailing the lesson and how to deliver it. Includes the learning objectives and a list of the activities to be carried out during the lesson (with approximate timings for each of the activities).
  • Lesson 3 Presentation: a PowerPoint presentation for the third lesson, covering numerical skills and data comparison
  • Lesson 3 Slide Notes: a set of presenter notes to accompany Lesson 3 Presentation, featuring small images of the slides and the presenter notes alongside them.
• Adaption for SCQF Level 2: details of how to adapt the resource for Level 2 learners. Indicates the necessary changes to be made as well as what activities should be skipped.
• Editable PDF Files: a zipped folder containing the files required to alter the PDF files ‘Health Diary’, ‘Lesson 2 Pupil Workbook’ and ‘Lesson 2 Visitor Questionnaire’. The files contained within are in the LaTeX format. In general, these files should not be needed however are included in case changes to the PDF documents are required.

This resource was created as part of the GeoScience Outreach Course which is a 4th year undergraduate course in the School of GeoSciences aiming to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own science communication and engagement project.

This resource was originally developed for Craigroyston Community High School, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Author: Tom Richmond, adapted by Andrew Ferguson.

This resource is available under a CC BY 4.0 license and has been made available on TES Connect which hosts a range of lesson materials for early years, primary, secondary, and special needs teaching.

Go to Outdoor Learning on TES to view and download this resource

Cover Image A park historian assists with a field trip from National Park Service, NPS Photo is from the webpage Field Trips, accessed July 2019. Public domain. No protection is claimed in original U.S. Government works.