During Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10-16), it seems only fitting that a school has shared the work it has done to include the outdoors as a place for education.

Following on from the Covid pandemic, the Alun School, in Mold, has been endeavouring to give students more opportunities to engage with their environment and learn outdoors.

This has seen an investment in creating outdoor learning spaces, and encouraging students and staff to use them in their teaching and learning.

Outdoor learning at the Alun School, Mold - chemistry on a giant periodic table.

Outdoor learning at the Alun School, Mold - chemistry on a giant periodic table.

Examples include:

• Giant musical stave

• Giant periodic table

• Map of the world

• Giant number square

• Giant electrical circuit

• Giant model of the atom

• Forest school resources

• Five ways to wellbeing wall

Some examples of how the outdoors has been used in lessons are:

• Giant periodic table and model of the atom used to teach chemistry and atomic structure

• Map of the world used to teach about climate change and plate tectonics

• Giant musical stave used to 'act out' a piece of music

• Forest school used for survival skills

• Woods used to read and act out Lord of the Flies in English lesson

• Five ways to wellbeing wall used to give students the opportunity to reflect on their perception of the pandemic and its impact on them

• Giant Number square used to teach maths

• Shelter building

• Producing art using items from the outdoors as inspiration and as paintbrushes etc

Outdoor learning at the Alun School, Mold - art.

Outdoor learning at the Alun School, Mold - art.

The Flintshire high school plans to expand on what it currently have in place and is looking for ideas and support to enable them to put this into action, and give students the best experience of learning actively outdoors.

Headteacher Jane Cooper said: "As a school, we have long recognised that education doesn't just happen in the four walls of the classroom.

"We want to encourage students to take their learning further through learning in different environments.

"The creation of outdoor learning spaces encourages students to develop wider skills such as creativity, problem-solving and independence and has been shown to improve self-confidence.

"As we look to the future of the school curriculum and the changes that Welsh Government's Curriculum for Wales will bring in terms of the educational experience, I believe that the investment we have made will put us in a good position to continue to provide our students with excellent learning experiences."

Andy Bowyer, head of physical education, added: "I have long been passionate about the outdoors and the role it can play in promoting the physical and mental wellbeing of students.

"Covid and its aftermath has had an impact on us all and I wanted to use this opportunity to change how students view their environment and how we use it in our teaching.

"Using the outdoor spaces that we are so lucky to have at the Alun, has enabled us to be creative and give students and teachers the opportunity to get outside, away from screens and to re-engage with the natural environment in an active way.

"Our aim is to create healthier and happier children and initiatives such as this are a step along that journey."

If you have any school news, events or successes to share, email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk