Move out to fall in

We wanted to activate, include and support pupils with different challenges in meaningful activities.We aimed to achieve more motivated and engaged pupils by implementing outdoor activities connec...

We wanted to activate, include and support pupils with different challenges in meaningful activities.We aimed to achieve more motivated and engaged pupils by implementing outdoor activities connected to sustainability. We believed that to give extra support and introduce inspiring activities to our target group, we would achieve more engaged pupils in outdoor activities than what we experienced in the classroom at a daily basis. To achieve more engaged pupils we focused on inclusion of the target pupils in groups with support from teachers. We also wanted to involve the pupils in planning of the activities and give them responibility for carrying them through. In addition we wanted to create new methods and teaching materials for our schools.

We implented all the activities we had planned and also added some extra as the project developed. The planned activities were to make and send each other films to present the schools and countries, job shadowing in both countries with focus on inclusion and activities connected to sustainability, an activity connected to the UN sustainable goals in both countries (learning paths), a course about outdoor teaching and other outdoor activities we learnt in the Erasmus learning course. These were different games and task that are easy to learn and teach. Many of the activities were focused on sustainability and how you can teach about inclusion in different ways. One example is "ten quests" where the pupils work in groups and are going to solve ten tasks outdoor connected to the earth. The students get challenged as there are some restrictions for the group members.One can not use his/her hands, one can not speak, one can only use their mother language etc. Nevertheless, they have to cooperate to sing a song abouth earth, build a tower of materials they find on the ground, answer a quiz etc.We tried this activity in Norway with great success and we will continue to arrange it for different classes in the future.

An important output is that we experienced more active, motivated and engaged students during the activities as we had aimed for. Pupils from the target group expressed that they experienced less stress and more motivation for the activities. There has also been increased participation in language learning. Pupils showed their interest in communicating with children in another country by using English. In both countries we have obtained new knowledge in how to arrange outdoor activities and ways to engage children in sustainability. We have also practised and found new ways to include insecure pupils with different challenges in inclusive and meaningful activities outside of the classroom. We have succeded with motivating and engaging the more passive pupils in suitable groups. There has also been raised awareness of sustainability among the pupils. By implementing several theorethical and practical activities about sustainability to outdoor teaching we have worked cross- curricular. This has lead to in-deapht learning and has engaged the students to live and act more sustainable. We have obtained an increased use of outdoor teaching in our schools. In addition, knowledge of and engagement in Erasmus+ has found place.