OUTDOOR PLAY LABS - INTEGRATING STEM AND SEL LEARNING IN EDUCATION

This project aims to develop, pilot, and disseminate an Outdoor STEM and SEL Learning Program for children aged 3 to 10. The program promotes:

• STEM learning as essential life skills
• SEL learning as essential life skills
• outdoor learning as a learning method (child-centered, hands-on, nurturing different learning styles and intelligences, learning through movement and all senses, in harmony with nature)
• learning in cooperation with parents and the community
• inclusive learning that nurtures diversity within the community
• alignment with national curricula.

Participants from Croatia:

• Kindergarten Sisak Novi
• Kindergarten Špansko
• Primary School Hrvatski Leskovac

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS:

1. A research-based, practical, and inclusive program for outdoor STEM and SEL learning for children aged 3–6 and 6–10, aligned with national curricula (including 40+ structured activities, 25+ lesson plans, 10+ activities and 5+ self-assessment tools) in 5 languages, accompanied by a guide on inclusive outdoor learning strategies and a guide for activities with parents and community partners.
2. Piloting of the program in practice through teacher training, piloting activities in the community, documentation, reflection, and evaluation.
3. Study visit of partner organizations to Croatia as an example of good practice.
4. A digital repository of good practices on the ISSA website.
5. Video presentation of the program implementation.
6. Policy recommendations.
7. Dissemination events: national conferences, an international online conference, and one additional open training session for program trainers.