This research studied children’s educational outdoor environments in order to understand which contexts and environmental characteristics support children’s creativity in play. Creativity is an important factor in children’s cognitive development; children’s creativity can flourish in outdoor environments as they can engage in free play. Accordingly, this research had two central aims: Aim 1: To classify and assess children’s levels of creativity during play. Aim 2: To develop design principles for educational outdoor environments in order to nurture children's creativity in play. Initially, behaviour observation and the Leuven Wellbeing and Involvement Scale were used to collect data for a pilot study. Children’s play behaviours were observed and analysed, and based on the Evaluation of Potential for Creativity, the Creative Play Taxonomy was designed in relation to the first aim of the study. Then, at two study sites, experimental research was designed. At both study sites, children were observed in four different play contexts. At Study Site One, duration recording was used and the videorecorder observations were coded with the Creative Play Taxonomy using the software The Observer from Noldus. At Study Site Two, narrative recording was used in the observation sessions and focus group discussions were held with the children. The findings from both study sites achieved the second aim of this study. The current research makes two main contributions to knowledge. Firstly, it introduces the Creative Play Taxonomy, which can be used by researchers, psychologists, educationalists and related disciplines to understand, categorise and assess children’s creativity in play. Secondly, it increases the understanding of the particular play contexts that support children’s creativity in play, and the environmental characteristics that enhance these types of play. Accordingly, this research suggests that: - Outdoor play spaces should include a variety of different play contexts to encourage creative play amongst different groups of children. - The most effective play contexts for children’s creativity are those facilitated with flexible, changeable, mouldable, movable, multi-functional and open-ended play materials. - Children’s outdoor play spaces should be facilitated with loose parts, both natural and synthetic, as they are highly supportive of children’s creativity. - Natural outdoor environments and elements highly encourage creative play behaviours amongst children. The findings are intended to guide landscape architects and playground design professionals to produce informed design decisions based on the framework of creativity, in order to nurture children's creative thinking abilities.

Syftet med detta arbete är att öka förståelsen för hur utomhusmiljön används i undervisningen och då framför allt i naturvetenskapliga ämnen på mellanstadiet. Jag tar först upp mål och riktlinjer utifrån Lpo94 om barn och natur. Vad utomhuspedagogik är som lärande och metod och ur ett hälsoperspektiv. Därefter handlar min studie om barns lärande och hur det naturvetenskapliga lärandet uppfattas i skolan. Tidigare forskning lyfts fram. Jag har i en kvalitativ undersökning frågat hur utomhusundervisningen fungerar i två klasser, en i staden och en på landet, och hur den uppfattas av lärare och deras elever. Materialet bygger på intervjuer med lärare och enkätundersökning bland eleverna. Resultatet visar lärarnas uppfattning om utomhusundervisning och deras roll som pedagoger i utemiljön. Lärarna vill använda utemiljön, men bar olika syn på vad utemiljön kan användas till. Det som framgick tydligast av elevernas svar i enkätundersökningen var att elever, både i staden och på landet, vill ha lektioner utomhus och att de anser att de lär sig något.

Thesis is focused on all aspects of having pupils of a younger school age participating in a nature field trip, as percieved from a teacher's point of view. The theory section concentrates on the definition of basic terms on given issues, legislation and organisation of the nature field trip. The practical part is formed of a questionnaire section and a discussion with the aim to find out whether schools in the Czech Republic organise these trips and if so, what experiences teachers come across. If not, what reasons let them to that decision. The object of the thesis is to analyse the outcome of the inquiry and to summarise the benefits and disadvantages which emerge for teachers from such nature field trip. Both part sof the thesis highlight the challenges teachers are facing in thein profession not only during the preparation stages but also throughout the course of the nature field trip. Additionally the practical section features actual examples of previously completed trips, including the reflection of participating teachers.