A classroom in the park

Every Tuesday afternoon, the seven year-olds at Hohberg School in the French city of Strasbourg head out to their local park. But this isn't about nature lessons. Rain or shine, once a week the second-graders take to wide open spaces for classes that would otherwise take place indoors.

Having fun - and learning

Kids told us they felt "more free" and had "more fun" than they do learning in a traditional classroom. A maths lesson, for example, takes the form of a game pitching acorns on to a target drawn in the dirt. Leaves, flowers and twigs are all to hand for a lesson in spelling. There are treasure hunts and children learn how to read maps. And of course there's also playtime in the park, where hide and seek and tag is much more amusing among the trees than in the playground.

Looking after nature

Around the world, some schools go even further, with pupils studying nearly all the time outdoors in all weathers. Several scientific studies have indicated that learning outdoors can help children concentrate and remember lessons better. It's also a way of feeling calmer as well as encouraging more physical activity and building confidence to explore the outside world. By learning more about wildlife, outdoor school also encourages children to feel more interested in looking after our environment. Fancy giving it a go? 

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