Outdoor science education to improve learning and well-being in primary school children
Outdoor Science Education and Child Well-being in Primary Schools: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial on Learning, Connection to Nature, Eco-anxiety, and Stress
This project will test whether giving 5th and 6th grade students outdoor science lessons instead of indoor lessons helps their learning, connection to nature, eco-anxiety, and stress.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Université de Sherbrooke Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Trial ID | NCT07147634 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
In a cluster randomized design, primary schools in Montreal, Longueuil, and Laval are randomized to deliver a 5-week science curriculum either outdoors or in the classroom, with lessons twice weekly for 2 hours. Participants are 5th and 6th graders from schools that meet a minimum deprivation index and have at least two interested teachers; alternative schools and schools for newly arrived non‑Francophone students are excluded. Outcomes include the quality of students' observations of living organisms on a post-intervention field trip and pre/post questionnaires measuring connection to nature, eco-anxiety, and stress. The trial is led by Université de Sherbrooke and randomizes at the school (cluster) level to compare outdoor versus indoor instruction.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are 5th and 6th grade students enrolled in primary schools in Montreal, Longueuil, or Laval that meet the deprivation index requirement and have two teachers willing to take part.
Not a fit: Students in alternative schools, schools serving newly arrived non‑Francophone students, those outside the specified grades, or schools outside the three-city area are not eligible and would not benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could improve students' observational skills, strengthen their connection to nature, and reduce eco-anxiety and stress.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research suggests outdoor learning can improve engagement, observational skills, and aspects of well-being, but high-quality randomized evidence in primary school settings remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Primary schools need to have a deprivation index equal to or superior to 1 (with 10 being the maximum) and be located in Montreal, Longueuil or Laval (QC). * Teachers have to show some interest in outdoor education but are not obliged to have already done some before in order to be included. * Only 5th and 6th grade teachers are included. * Primary schools with two teachers interested in participating in the project. Exclusion Criteria: * Alternative schools or those welcoming recently arrived non-Francophone students are not included.
Where this trial is running
Montreal, Quebec
- Greater Montreal area (Laval, Longueuil, Montreal) — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet, PhD — Université de Sherbrooke
- Study coordinator: Gabriela Quintela Do Carmo
- Email: quig1988@usherbrooke.ca
- Phone: 803-477-7554
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.