Teaching is demanding, and stress and burnout drive many teachers out of the profession. We know a lot about how outdoor learning helps children. But does teaching outside also help the adults doing it?
The researchers worked with six teachers of 5- and 6-year-olds and two school leaders at two Australian primary schools that regularly taught outdoors. Over six to twelve months, they watched outdoor lessons and interviewed the teachers, sometimes on walks around the grounds. At one school, teachers also met in groups to plan, try and reflect on more outdoor teaching.
The teachers described professional and personal benefits that fed into each other:
- Teaching felt rewarding again. Teachers enjoyed teaching outside and felt more motivated. Seeing children happy outdoors told them they were doing good work. One said it made her "a better teacher." Another, who had been ready to quit, said, "I can teach again."
- Closer relationships and calmer classes. Children opened up and chatted more outside, and teachers connected with children they rarely reached indoors. A boy who was hard to engage in class was "amazing" outside. One teacher had been scared to take her class out because of behavior, then found they were calmer outdoors.
- Less noise. Teachers found classroom noise overwhelming. Outside, the sound spread out, which helped them stay patient instead of getting "snappy."
- Better mood and less stress. Teachers said they felt happier, calmer and more clear-headed.
- More movement. Walking to outdoor spaces and moving among children kept teachers on their feet.
- A stronger bond with nature. Teachers grew attached to favorite places on the grounds. Early worries about snakes eased as their confidence grew, with school safety rules in place.
What this means for your practice
If your energy is running low, try moving some regular lessons outdoors. Notice how you feel, not just how the children respond. Ideas from these teachers:
- Build movement into lessons. One teacher led a 40-minute word hunt around the school. Children searched for words starting with the week's letter sounds and wrote them on mini whiteboards. A shape hunt worked the same way.
- Watch for children who come alive outside. Some children who struggled to focus indoors joined in fully outdoors. Use outdoor time to reach them.
- Walk and talk. Moving among small groups let teachers ask each child about their thinking as they worked.
- Pick quieter spots. Not every outdoor space is calm. Choose areas away from noisy, busy parts of the grounds.
- Go back to the same places. One class visited a wooded area so often that they watched a magpie chick grow up. Regular visits made these places special for teachers too.
- Test your worries in small steps. If behavior or wildlife makes you hesitant, start with short sessions and clear safety plans. Several teachers found their fears faded once they saw how children behaved outside.
- Reflect with colleagues. At one school, teachers met regularly to plan outdoor lessons, try them and talk over what happened.
The Bottom Line
The researchers spent six months to a year with six first-year teachers and two school leaders at two Australian primary schools, watching outdoor lessons and interviewing them. Teachers said teaching outside made their work more enjoyable and their classes easier to teach. Children talked more, stayed focused longer and were calmer outdoors, and the open air spared teachers the constant classroom noise. Teachers also described personal gains: better mood and less stress, more walking during the day, and a growing fondness for favorite natural spots on the school grounds. One teacher who had planned to quit said she could teach again. For educators, the study shows that taking lessons outside is not only good for learners. It can also help teachers feel well, energized and motivated in a demanding job.