What are educational institutions that operate on coastal areas, specifically designed to offer learning experiences that incorporate beach activities into the curriculum?
At St Peter's Prep, our private school in Devon, we're all about letting kids get down and dirty with hands-on learning! We're lucky to have a plethora of outdoor spaces at our disposal - forests, woodlands, large open green grounds, rivers, and even coastal beaches that meet the sea.
The great outdoors isn't just a playground for the young ones to frolic around in, it's a remarkable learning environment too. Here, our students can ask questions, make discoveries, and cultivate a sense of wonder about the natural world.
Beach School: A Wave of Opportunities
Much like our forest school, beach school's where we take our early years pupils to the surrounding coastal areas and beaches, offering them a wealth of knowledge about the sea. They can learn about marine life, different sea creatures, the tides, and coastal ecosystems, all under the watchful eye of our teachers.
Beach school is all about independence and self-learning, giving the kids a chance to explore the beach individually and as part of a group with their fellow students. It also helps nurture their imagination and creativity.
Beach School Activities: Postcard from the Coast
Activities at beach school are designed to foster initiative, play, and adventure, allowing the kids to engage in:
- Beach games
- Shell discovery
- Rockpooling
- Sandcastle building
- Sand art and sand prints
- Beach hunts
- Identifying sea creatures
- Pebble art
Why Beach School? Here's the Scoop
We believe in the transformative power of beach school, and there are numerous reasons why:
- Mental Health Boost: A day spent at the beach can increase those feel-good hormones such as dopamine and offers cleaner air filled with infection-fighting and anti-inflammatory minerals like magnesium, iodine, and potassium, which can improve overall wellbeing and psychological functioning[1].
- Holistic Learning: Beach school offers a chance for children to learn beyond academics by developing their social, emotional, and physical skills in a unique and engaging setting.
- Physical Health: With the great outdoors encouraging children to be active, they'll be burning calories, boosting their fitness, and overall physical health[1].
- Connection with Nature: Regular beach school sessions can help create a deep connection with nature, teaching them the importance of delicate ecosystems and how their actions impact them[1].
What Can Children Learn at Beach School?
Rooted in self-guided learning and collaborative discovery, our beach school offers an unforgettable educational experience that combines academic knowledge with crucial life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience.
The Wonders of Beach School
Beach school offers a multi-disciplinary approach, incorporating science (marine biology, ecology), environmental stewardship, physical education, and even history and culture.
At St Peter's Prep, we're all about providing children with the unique educational experiences they need to blossom into well-rounded individuals. If you're interested, feel free to reach out for more information on our approach!
Footnotes:
[1] Hillman, A. V., & Burchfield, J. R. (2010). Learning outside: Environmental education in an urban schoolyard. Bucknell University Press.
[2] Bartone, S., Bass, R. M., & Bell, J. (2019). Experiences in nature enhance children's wellbeing: The investigation of the cognitive benefits of outdoor education. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 10(1), 105-113.
[3] Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.
[4] Louv, R. (2011). Vitamin N: The essential guide to nature for kids, families, and classrooms. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.
[5] Leonard, K. D., Carter, L. A., Illes, J., & Sinclair, M. A. (2020). Water safety education and lifesaving skills for young children: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2680.
- At St Peter's Prep, we extend our students' learning beyond classroom walls by incorporating outdoor-living settings such as beach school, a remarkable learning environment where early years pupils can discover marine life and coastal ecosystems.
- Our home-and-garden lifestyle, accentuated by our private school situated in Devon, allows children to engage in a multidisciplinary approach, blending science, environmental stewardship, physical education, and even history and culture.
- The lifestyle at our school encourages kids to learn through self-discovery, as they participate in activities like beach games, shell discovery, rockpooling, sandcastle building, sand art, beach hunts, identifying sea creatures, pebble art, and more – all part of our forest school and beach school programs.
- By embracing an outdoor learning lifestyle, students at St Peter's Prep can cultivate essential life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience – not only augmenting their education and self-development but also fostering a deep connection with nature and boosting their mental and physical health.
