Forest schools popular in Sweden

In Sweden, most people agree that muddy children are happy children. So, young students play outdoors as part of the national curriculum. But most of the teaching takes place outdoors in I Ur Och Skur preschools. I Ur Och Skur literally means "Rain or Shine." Managers of these forest preschools believe that a natural environment encourages learning more than just hearing and seeing lessons in a classroom.

I Ur Ock Skur schools started in 1985 and now offer "experience-based learning" across the country. Recently, more and more parents and children are becoming interested in these forest preschools because of climate change. In one of their schools, around 300 students are on the waiting list for a chance to attend.

Still, when it comes to teaching outside, the children's health comes first. Children who attend forest schools always wear proper clothes for the rain and the snow. After returning from the forest, the children eat warm lunch and go to the school porch to take a nap before going to the forest again. But when it's too cold or too hot outside, children have their lessons indoors.

Sweden　/'swiːdn/　n)スウェーデン

muddy   /'mʌdi/　adj)泥んこの　v)泥だらけにする

curriculum   /kə'rɪkjələm/　n)カリキュラム、学習過程

preschool   /'priːskuːl/   n)幼稚園･保育園

★ a school for children between the ages of about two and five

literally adj)文字通りに

shine　v)太陽が輝く　n)太陽の輝き

encourage   /ɪn'kʌrɪdʒ/　/ɪn'kɜːrɪdʒ/

★ to give somebady support, courage or hope

proper   /'prɒpə(r)/　/'prαːpər/　adj)適した、ふさわしい

porch　/pɔːtʃ/　/pɔːrtʃ/　n)ポーチ、張だし玄関

Going to school

①Do you think children should be required to go to preschool?

Yeah, should be. Preschools provide important benefits to working parents, especially working mothers.

②In your opinion, what should students learn in preschool (ex. language, making friends)?

I guess students should learn how fun it is to play outdoors.

③Do you want to have forest schools in your country?

I want to have these kind of schools. I have 3 young children, but they have already grown up. If there were forest schools, I really wanted my kids to go there.

Outdoor Activities

①Do you like doing outdoor activities?

I love to be in nature.

②In Sweden, most people agree that muddy children are happy children. Do you agree or disagree with this?

③According to the article, a natural environment encourage learning more than just hearing and seeing lessons in a classroom. What is your opinion about this?

When I was a child. We were free to go and have fun outdoors without restrictions.

But nowadays, Children don't have much time outdoors. So we offer children to play outdoors.