Green Spaces Supports Science Learning

Summary of Grover & Chatterjee (2024)

Background & Existing Knowledge
With increasing urbanization, schools are turning to nearby green spaces like city parks to teach science in context—bringing biodiversity, climate, and ecosystems into daily learning.

New Insights from This Study
✔ Urban green spaces can improve students’ understanding of ecological relationships and systems thinking.
✔ Students using local parks for lessons were more engaged and asked higher-order questions about nature.
✔ Teachers reported that hands-on data collection and observation increased student agency across disciplines.

Practical Applications
Behavior Management
📌 Use accessible urban habitats for structured scientific inquiry.
Teacher Support
📌 Co-plan community-based science field days with local parks or agencies.
Inclusive Teaching

📌 Incorporate visual, data, and storytelling tasks for diverse learners.

Conclusion
Integrating nearby green spaces into science instruction helps urban students develop ecological awareness and stronger scientific reasoning.

Key Words
urban learning, green spaces, ecological pedagogy, place‑based learning, engagement

Reference
Grover, A., & Chatterjee, S. (2024). A study of science pedagogy in urban green spaces. Journal of Science Education, 13(1), 45–60.

Suggested Citation
Ross, E. M., & Malar, D. B. J. (2025). Green Spaces Supports Science Learning. Excellent Educator, 2(14), 3.