Activity 1

Outdoor Education

Shinrin-Yoku and Wellbeing

In this immersive health and physical education lesson plan students will discover the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, exploring how spending time in nature can enhance relaxation and well-being. The session begins with a discussion on the significance of outdoor experiences, accompanied by a video that introduces the concept of forest bathing and its benefits for mental and physical health.

Through hands-on activities and reflective exercises, students will experience the many benefits of outdoor learning, including improved mood, increased emotional resilience, and a deeper appreciation for the elements of nature. Activities involve trying out forest bathing and reflecting on sensory experiences, maintaining a nature diary over a week, and creating informative materials to promote forest bathing.

By the end of the lesson, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the positive impact of nature on their well-being and be prepared to share these insights with others. Prepare your students to embrace the outdoors and cultivate lasting connections with nature through our thoughtfully designed activities. Let’s get outside and explore the world around us!

Upper Primary Health and Physical Education Lesson Plan: Learning Objectives

Level 1

Reflect on emotions and observations and analyse changes in mood and well-being.

Level 2

Create a persuasive resource around strategies to manage emotions, commenting on how emotional responses influence interactions.

Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education Links

Investigate how success, challenge, setbacks and failure strengthen resilience and identity in a range of contexts (APHP4P01)
Explain how identities can be influenced by people and places, and how we can create positive self-identities (APHP6P01)

Teacher Material Needed

Youtube or video downloaded from link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ssut1SlpzE (Planet Ark - What is forest bathing?)
eBook Creator or similar platform for leaflet creation
Laptops
Access to outdoor areas with natural surrounding
Drawing and writing materials
Diaries or journals for recording observations

Introducing the Concept of Forest Bathing

Introduce the concept of Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) to students, explaining that it is a Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature for health and well-being.
Watch the Planet Ark video on Shinrin-Yoku together as a class, discussing the benefits of spending time in nature for mental and physical health.
Explain the upcoming outdoor learning activities focused on experiencing and documenting nature's benefits firsthand.

Classroom Activity 1: Shinrin-Yoku Reflections

Take students to an outdoor area with natural surroundings, such as a park or garden.
Instruct students to find a relaxing shady spot to lie down for a few minutes trying out the forest bathing concept themselves.
Encourage students to take note of what they can smell, hear, and feel during their sensory experience.
Afterward, facilitate a group discussion where students share their observations and reflections on how the practice of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) affected their mindset.

Classroom Activity 2: Forest Bathing and Mental Health

Assign students to take some time out every day for the next week to "bathe" in nature and enjoy the natural elements.
Instruct students to keep a diary or journal to record their emotions and observations during each of their forest bathing sessions. Provide guidance on what to include, such as descriptions of their surroundings, the sounds they hear, the scents they notice, and the feelings they experience. This promotes outdoor learning by encouraging students to be mindful and present during their time in nature.
Encourage students to reflect on how they feel before and after spending time in nature and to note any changes in their mood or well-being over the course of the week. This reflective practice helps students understand the positive impact of forest bathing on their mental health.

Classroom Activity 3: Promoting Forest Bathing

Using eBook Creator or a similar platform, instruct students to create a leaflet encouraging others to try forest bathing and educating them on its benefits.
Guide students in researching and selecting key information to include in their leaflets, such as the health benefits of spending time in nature and tips for incorporating Shinrin-Yoku/ forest bathing into daily life.
Encourage students to use text, images, and design elements to make their leaflets visually appealing and informative.

Health and Physical Education Lesson Wrap Up

Allow students to share their nature diaries and leaflets with the class, either individually or in small groups.
Facilitate a discussion about the students' experiences with Shinrin-yoku (forest athing) and the potential benefits of incorporating nature into daily life.
Encourage students to continue practicing forest bathing and to share their experiences with family and friends. Ecourage them to make outdoor learning a regular part of their routine, exploring various elements of nature and continuing to document their experiences and reflections.

Outdoor Education

Embracing the Elements of Nature

This lesson plan promotes outdoor learning and aims to immerse students in the benefits of outdoor education through an exploration of nature and the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing. By engaging with these concepts, students will discover how spending time in natural settings can enhance relaxation and overall well-being.

The science lesson plan begins with a discussion on the significance of outdoor experiences, complemented by a video that introduces forest bathing. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their personal connections to nature and discuss the positive impacts it has on their emotions. These outdoor learning activities will empower your students to continue exploring and appreciating the natural environment, reinforcing their understanding of its value in their daily lives.

Science Lesson Plan Learning Objectives

Level 1

Explore and appreciate the natural environment through the concept of forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku).

Level 2

Explore and appreciate the natural environment through the concept of forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku). Identify various elements of nature and their characteristics.

Australian Curriculum Science Links

Science

Observe external features of plants and animals and describe ways they can be grouped based on these features (AC9SFU01)
Describe daily and seasonal changes in the environment and explore how these changes affect every day life (AC9S1U02)
Compare characteristics of living and non living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals (AC9S3U01)
Compare the observable properties of soils, rocks, and minerals and investigate why they are important earth resources (AC9S3U02)

Health and physical education

Explain how and why emotional responses can vary and practise strategies to manage their emotions (AC9HP4P06)

Teacher Material Needed

Laptops or tablets with internet access
Youtube or video downloaded from link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ssut1SlpzE (Planet Ark - What is forest bathing?)
Digital collage platform such as PicCollage or Adobe Spark
Notebook and pencils to record observations, or digital devices with a note taking app
Optional: microscopes. Magnifying glasses or binoculars for close observation

Introducing the Concept of Forest Bathing

Begin by discussing with students the importance of outdoor education and the concept of Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing for relaxation and well-being. Explain that forest bathing involves immersing oneself in nature which can improve mental health and emotional regulation by connecting with the elements of nature.
Watch the Planet Ark video on Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) together as a class. This video will provide a visual and informative introduction to Shinrin-Yoku, illustrating its benefits and principles. The video serves as a valuable resource to help students understand how engaging with nature can positively impact their well-being.
3. Briefly discuss why people might enjoy spending time in nature and invite students to share their favourite things about being outside and their favourite natural elements. For more able students, connect this discussion with students’ existing knowledge and understanding around emotional regulation.

Learning Activity 1: Nature Walk

Take students for a nature walk in the school grounds or a nearby natural area.
To enhance their outdoor learning experience, provide students with the following list of natural elements to find during the nature walk:
1. Symmetry in nature
2. Some ants walking up or down a tree
3. A good hiding place for a creature
4. A flower with bright petals
5. A place for people to play
6. A shady spot
7. Four differently shaped leaves
8. The tallest tree
9. The tiniest leaf
10. A muddy spot
11. A large rock
12. Five different insects or creatures
Encourage students to take photos of each natural element they find and to record their observations in their notebooks.
Circulate among the students providing assistance and guidance as needed and encouraging them to engage deeply with the natural elements.
Once the nature walk is complete gather students together to share their findings and observations. Discuss how the Shinrin-Yoku practice of forest bathing contrasts with learning in a classroom setting and emphasise the benefits of outdoor education.
Find a large space for the class to relax in sitting in nature as you discuss your observations. Use this opportunity to reinforce the value of outdoor learning and the holistic benefits of spending time in nature.

Learning Activity 2: Scrapbooking the Shinrin-Yoku Experience

Instruct students to upload their photos of their nature walk into a digital platform, for example, Adobe Spark. Provide guidance and support where necessary to ensure they can portray the elements of nature that they discovered along the way.
Challenge students to create a digital scrapbook by arranging their photos and recording voiceover reflections on what they observed during the nature walk. Direct students to add commentary on how they felt throughout the nature walk paying particular attention to naming their emotions.
Encourage students to use descriptive language and to express their thoughts and feelings about the elements of nature they encountered. This will help them connect their observations with their personal experience, enhancing their appreciation for Shinrin-Yoku and outdoor learning.

Wrapping Up: Embracing the Power of Outdoor Education and Nature

Provide an opportunity for students to share experiences on the nature walk and their digital scrapbooks with the class either individually or in small groups.
Facilitate discussion about the importance of nature and the benefits of spending time outdoors. Connect this conversation to their experiences with elements of nature and how these relate to outdoor learning. Highlight the significance of caring for our natural environment as part of their broader understanding.
Encourage students to continue exploring and appreciating the natural elements around them.