Exploring the Pedagogy of Learning and Playing Outdoors

Mehmet Mart is an Associate Professor at Necmettin Erbakan University in Turkiye, and research fellow at the University of Plymouth, UK. Georgia Gessiou is an education consultant who specializes in Outdoor Play and Learning. Jane Waters-Davies is an Associate Professor and the Applied Research Lead in Education at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK.

1. Editors’ Introductory Chapter Part 1: Values – ways of being 2. Looking back, looking forward - themes and trends in research into outdoor play and learning 3. The Power of Play: sustainability as a value and how it is embedded in children’s outdoor play and local identity 4. Decisive role of teachers and parents concerning outdoor activities Part 2: Power – ways of doing 5. Flourishing in the forest: The role of the adult in supporting autonomy in nature-based settings 6. Outdoor play opportunities in UK contexts and the impact of pedagogic action: Using the empowerment framework to re-orientate outdoor play and learning provision towards children’s empowerment. 7. “No teachers allowed”: Outdoor play and teachers’ role. Results from a Greek study 8. “Spiders, Birds or Olive trees?” - Emergent curriculum in the outdoor spaces in israeli preschools and teacher education, enhance children’s meaningful learning 9. Meeting preschool curriculum guidelines through outdoor experiences in a public park 10. Community spaces for outdoor play, learning, and citizenship 11. Editors’ conclusion chapter