What Works Outdoors? A Systematic Literature Review of Nature-Based Instruction in Science Education

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Chen, S., Sermeno, R., Hodge, K., Murphy, S., Agenbroad, A., Schweitzer, A., Tsao, L., & Roe, A. J. (2024). Young children’s self-regulated learning benefited from a metacognition-driven science education intervention for early childhood teachers. Education Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14060565
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Foraster, M., Esnaola, M., López-Vicente, M., Rivas, I., Àlvarez-Pedrerol, M., Persavento, C., Sebastian-Galles, N. Ú., Pujol, J., Dadvand, P., & Sunyer, J. A. (2022). Exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive development in schoolchildren in Barcelona, Spain: A population-based cohort study. PLOS Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004001
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Gallay, E. E., Flanagan, C. A., & Parker, B. (2021). Place-based environmental civic science: Urban students using STEM for public good. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.693455
Harris, E. M., & Ballard, H. L. (2021). Examining student environmental science agency across school science contexts. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21685
Höper, J. (2025). Mind the gap between chemistry and outdoor education: Primary and lower secondary preservice teachers’ beliefs during an outdoor-based introduction to chemistry in science education. Journal of Science Teacher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1046560X.2024.2406661
Jones, D. A. (2025). Integrating STEM education in sustained deep rural schools: Innovative strategies for multi-grade, multi-subject classrooms. Frontiers in Education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1569489
Kesler, M., Kaasinen, A., & Kervinen, A. (2024). Teaching science outdoors: Supporting pre-service teachers’ skill development with the help of available mobile applications. Education Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14111218
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Kutlu-Abu, N., & Dal, E. (2025). Gifted students’ perceptions on science courses in general education classroom. Journal of Baltic Science Education. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/25.24.296
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Pitiporntapin, S., Butkatanyoo, O., Piyapimonsit, C., Thanarachataphoom, T., Chotitham, S., & Lalitpasan, U. (2024). The influence of outdoor STEM activities on students’ STEM literacy: A study of elective subjects, extracurricular activities, and student clubs. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.15294/es9jaz32
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Mahmud, S. N. D., & Sainorudin, M. H. (2025). What Works Outdoors? A Systematic Literature Review of Nature-Based Instruction in Science Education. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(4), 874–896.

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