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Nature program helps Sydney class significantly improve in maths
🇦🇺 Australia /Health & Science

Nature program helps Sydney class significantly improve in maths

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • A study followed 25 year 1 students from Middle Harbour Public School who spent two hours a week outdoors in Sydney’s Centennial Parklands over 10 weeks.
  • Researchers found greater joy, autonomy and connection to nature among the students, with some showing significant improvement in mathematics.
  • The Bush School program used activities including wildlife observation, building stick cubbies, painting with ochre and writing poems about trees.

For 25 children from Sydney’s Middle Harbour Public School, school moved outdoors for two hours each week. They explored Centennial Parklands, learned about native animals and took part in activities designed to connect them with the natural environment.

It's learning in, through, and about the environment in a natural setting.

— Tonia GrayWestern Sydney University education researcher describing the Bush School approach.

The year 1 class joined the Greater Sydney Parklands’ Bush School program in 2024. Researchers led by PhD candidate Alexandra Harper followed the students across 10 weeks, as education rangers guided them through the park.

The children built stick cubbies, painted with ochre and wrote poems about trees. Research reflecting on the program found that students experienced more joy and autonomy, while developing a deeper connection with nature. Some also recorded a “significant improvement” in maths.

For a lot of children, they're really switched on to that type of learning instead of computer screens.

— Tonia GrayGray explained why outdoor learning appealed to many children.

Tonia Gray, from Western Sydney University’s School of Education, said the approach offered learning “in, through, and about the environment in a natural setting.” She said many children responded more strongly to this form of learning than to computer screens, and described outdoor education as a catalyst that adds to, rather than removes from, classroom learning.

It doesn't take away from time-compressed teaching, it actually adds to the learning environment ... it's like a catalyst for growth.

— Tonia GrayGray described the program’s relationship with mainstream classroom teaching.

The students, now in year 3, remembered climbing trees, bushwalking and seeing wildlife such as a water spider and a tawny frogmouth. Participant Nate said the experience made him more confident with balancing and “rock parkouring.” Assistant principal Jenni Osborn said the children went from being reserved to feeling at home outdoors, treating the environment as an extension of their classroom.

We were able to watch the kids go from being really reserved at first to ... becoming really at home in the environment.

— Jenni OsbornThe school’s assistant principal described the students’ change during the program.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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