‘Let's go outside’: Icelandic teachers' views of using the outdoors

Abstract

This article discusses the views of 25 Icelandic preschool and compulsory school teachers who were interviewed on the role of the outdoor environment in children's learning. The teachers reported not being afraid to take children outside. These teachers valued the learning potentials of the outdoors more than they feared the possible risks. They believed that the outdoors could provide opportunities for (a) enhancing children's play and learning (b) promoting children's health, well-being, and courage, and (c) affecting children's views, knowledge, and actions towards sustainability.

Keywords:

• teachers' views
• outdoor environment
• play and learning
• well-being
• health and courage
• sustainability education

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of The Nature Conservation Fund of Pálmi Jónsson (Náttúruverndarsjóður Pálma Jónssonar), the Environmental and Energy Research Fund (Umhverfis- og orkurannsóknasjóðurinn) owned by Reykjavík Energy (Orkuveita Reykjavíkur), the municipal energy company of Reykjavík, and the Research Fund of the University of Akureyri.