To improve academic performance and increase children’s enjoyment of going to school, have you considered outdoor learning? The outdoors can make learning that bit more fun, improving focus and concentration that can ultimately lead to better exam results!
Here at A&S Landscape, we are passionate about providing school canopies that can encourage students to get outdoors. Not only does learning in nature have significant benefits on pupils’ mental health, but outdoor learning also improves academic performance, something which all schools desire.
In this piece, we will look at the evidence surrounding academic performance and learning outdoors, including 5 ideas to help improve it, as well as a real-life case study from one of our clients.
So, sit back and relax as we tell you more about outdoor learning and its impact on academic performance.
How Does Outdoor Learning Improve Academic Performance?
Giving young people the opportunity to be outdoors can give them a sense of freedom and independence. With this, it can boost their confidence and improve behaviour. Students, especially in senior schools, already have an overwhelming academic pressure to fulfil. The solution? Canopies for senior schools.
Looking after their wellbeing and mental health comes hand in hand with their educational potential. By providing students with a safe and welcoming outdoor space, their motivation is increased, meaning that they actually want to learn and acquire knowledge about the world around them.
Below, we have five super easy ideas that you can use to improve academic performance. Let’s put them into practice!
5 Ways to Improve Academic Performance
Get Outside
Here at A&S Landscape, we are passionate about encouraging schools and businesses to make use of their outdoor space. Our range of playground canopies can help you to encourage pupils to play and learn outdoors all year round!
It’s no surprise that getting outdoors can improve mental health and wellbeing. In fact, getting outside can increase children’s ability to focus. Studies have shown that our minds and bodies relax in natural settings, which increases feelings of pleasure and can help us to focus and concentrate more effectively.
Therefore, encouraging children to be outdoors can have huge benefits on their academic performance.
Encourage Teamwork
Getting outside can also encourage things such as teamwork. The shared experience of adapting to outdoor elements together can break down social barriers, allowing children to form genuine connections by communicating with each other.
Teaching children about the importance of team communication enriches their learning experience and also encourages bonding. Teamwork can build self-esteem, promote positive thinking, and nurture communication skills. This in turn can lead to better academic performance in the classroom.
Student-Led Learning
Student-led learning is an education style that emphasizes self-directed education, creativity, and discovery, rather than traditional lecture-style education.
This approach is encouraged when students are exposed to the outdoors by providing them with more independence and trust. By giving pupils learning experiences that take place outside of the classroom, it can spark their curiosity and encourage them to explore their new surroundings.
Supportive Environments
If you provide the right equipment and resources, students will be clamouring to spend time outdoors. Therefore, having inviting and welcoming outdoor areas is crucial to offer supportive surroundings.
You could create small areas that encourage different skills, such as an outdoor reading area. In fact, we have 5 outdoor reading area ideas perfect for schools. Providing these small areas of comfort not only encourages pupils to spend time outside, but it can have an overall positive impact on their academic performance.
Varied Approaches
There is no ‘right’ approach to outdoor learning. In fact, examples of outdoor learning activities vary from things such as sports to art lessons. Different outdoor learning experiences offer different opportunities for personal and educational skills, such as communication, problem solving, working with others, and thinking skills.
However you decide to utilise outdoor learning, every outcome intends to do the same thing – giving students more opportunities to learn. Feeding their brains with more knowledge can increase their academic performance profusely.
Don’t Let the Weather Ruin All the Fun – Get a Canopy For Your Outdoor Learning Area!
We all know that the UK weather is extremely unreliable. However, this shouldn’t stop you from encouraging staff and pupils to get outside.
Here at A&S Landscape, we have an impressive variety of waterproof canopies, suitable for use all year round. Our PVC fabric is the perfect choice for a waterproof solution, offering high-strength water resistance and available in a choice of over 40 colours!
One of our favourite weather-proof designs is our Maxima Umbrella™ boasting our strong, PVC fabric. This canopy is a stunning commercial-grade product that is normally supplied with waterproof fabric, ideal for covered dining areas or playgrounds.
Our fabric canopies are functional, stylish, and allow you to enjoy the outdoors no matter what the weather. They are also snow-safe as well as waterproof, ideal for withstanding harsh weather conditions and getting pupils to enjoy being outside all year round.
For ultimate protection from the sun, our Maxima StarSail™ utilises high-quality knitted shade cloth, which is specifically designed as a strong and stable outdoor fabric used for tension structures, offering an impressive 90-98% UV protection.
So, whether the sun is shining or the rain is pouring, A&S have a canopy solution for you!
Check Out How One of Our Canopies Helped This School
Want to see one of our outdoor canopies in action? Then let’s show you how one school transformed their outdoor area to encourage better academic performance.
Beverley School in Middlesbrough installed a set of play canopies, keeping children safe from the sun and rain when outdoors.
The staff thought that a mixture of multicoloured canopies outside the classroom would provide immediate protection, whilst a bright waterproof shade model would add excitement and fun to the outdoors. They settled on three Motiva Linear™ canopies which are a great choice for colourful playground shelters to inspire cheer and creativity.
Read the full case study here!
Can’t Find a Canopy That’s Right for Your Outdoor Learning Area? Why Not Design Your Own!
We understand that every school has different needs that might not be met by a standard offering, which is why we are proud to offer bespoke canopy solutions. Whether you’re after a dining area, playground shelter, or covered walkway, A&S Landscape has the solution for you!
By opting for a custom design, your canopy can include many additional features such as:
- Side panels and doors
- Heating
- Lighting
- Flooring
At A&S Landscape, we use only high-quality materials and the latest construction methods for our canopies to make sure that our products are safe, practical, and durable for many years to come.
Our canopies are the perfect solution to improve academic performance, encouraging independence and outdoor learning.
Invest in a Canopy Today With A&S Landscape
Hopefully, this article has shown you that outdoor learning can help to improve academic performance. Providing pupils with an outdoor learning area encourages them to adapt to other environments, increasing their focus and furthering their learning.
If you have any enquiries about our school canopies, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. A member of our expert team will be more than happy to get back to you.
Or, check out more of our canopy content below!
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