Nature-based education for wellbeing and sustainability in Danish primary schools

Background

Climate change, biodiversity loss and declining child wellbeing are increasingly recognised as interconnected public health challenges. Primary schools are universal settings for early-life health promotion and education for sustainable development (ESD). However, it remains unclear how schools can integrate health, climate, and nature connectedness within ordinary curriculum-based teaching. This study draws on two Danish studies exploring how nature-based education (NBE) can strengthen pupils’ nature connectedness and sustainability-related capabilities, while supporting conditions for wellbeing in school.

Methods

A qualitative evaluation was conducted, combining a six-months pilot school case with group model building inspired workshops involving 30 stakeholders from primary education, public health, ESD and nature-based learning. Data included interviews, field notes, and workshop output materials. The analysis focused on mechanisms, feasibility and compatibility with curriculum-based teaching.

Results

Preliminary analysis identified mechanisms through which NBE may support health-promoting and sustainability-oriented learning. These included sensory nature experiences, movement, and inquiry and place-based learning. The pilot study indicated that nature connectedness can be integrated into subject-specific teaching through outdoor and wellbeing-enhancing practices without compromising curriculum goals. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of teacher support, local adaptability, and alignment with school subjects for feasible implementation.

Conclusions

By embedding sensory, collaborative and NBL, schools may strengthen pupils’ nature connectedness, sustainability-related capabilities, and conditions for wellbeing. Although health outcomes were not directly measured, the study identifies feasible mechanisms and implementation pathways relevant to municipalities and schools to promote wellbeing and establish ESD.

Key messages

• Nature-based education can serve as a curriculum-compatible health promotion approach in primary schools.

• Nature-based education hold potentials to promote wellbeing and sustainability-related capabilities through sensory nature experiences, movement, and inquiry- and place-based learning.