Outdoor Inquiry in Science

 Summary of Bruni et al. (2023)

Background & Existing Knowledge
Science inquiry is often restricted to labs. This study examined how outdoor inquiry—eco-experiments, soil tests, and nature observations—can transform student understanding.

New Insights from This Study
✔ Students in outdoor inquiry groups demonstrated deeper conceptual understanding and made stronger connections between theory and environment.
✔ Participation increased critically when students predicted, tested, and reflected in natural settings.
✔ Teachers facilitated greater questioning and peer dialogue during outdoor sessions.

Practical Applications
Behavior Management
📌 Begin with hypothesis generation and question framing outdoors.
Teacher Support
📌 Provide co-planning for inquiry-based outdoor science lessons.
Inclusive Teaching

📌 Design multisensory tasks like measuring, sketching, and comparing samples.

Conclusion
Outdoor science inquiry supports critical thinking, student ownership of learning, and deeper comprehension across disciplines.

Key Words
science inquiry, outdoor lessons, critical thinking, place-based learning, collaboration

Reference
Bruni, T. P., Bunning, R., Field, S., et al. (2023). Transforming teaching practice through outdoor science inquiry. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 18(3), 221–240.

Suggested Citation
Ross, E. M., & Malar, D. B. J. (2025). Outdoor Inquiry in Science. Excellent Educator, 2(14), 4.