What are Learnscapes?

Learnscapes are environments specifically designed for learning—dynamic, purpose-built spaces where students of all ages engage in experiential learning. These environments go beyond traditional classrooms, supporting the acquisition of knowledge while also nurturing critical life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and environmental stewardship.

Why Learnscape?

Modern children spend far less time outdoors than previous generations, a shift that affects their development. Reintroducing natural environments through school grounds offers multiple benefits:

1. Bio-Psychological Benefits

Access to nature promotes health, relaxation, and lower stress.
Children are generally healthier and happier when exposed to natural settings.

2. Developmental Benefits

Natural environments support sensory and physical learning, crucial for young children.
They provide a richer, more diverse range of stimuli (colors, textures, sounds) and permitted behaviors (running, climbing, shouting), which enhance cognitive, emotional, and physical development more effectively than indoor settings.

3. Environmental Awareness

Regular interaction with nature increases knowledge and care for the environment.
If children don’t experience nature, they are less likely to value or protect it.

4. Academic Value

A 1998 U.S. study found students in environment-based learning programs:

Perform better on standardised tests
Achieve higher grades across core subjects
Have improved attendance
Show increased creativity and problem-solving skills

Learning tied to the environment is more effective than traditional classroom models.

5. Social and Community Impact

Habitat projects encourage teamwork, community contribution, and environmental responsibility—key elements of service learning.
These help students develop skills for living successfully in society.

6. School Improvement (UK Study, 1997)

School grounds developed for learning led to:

Fewer playground accidents
Reduced bullying and vandalism
Lower maintenance costs
Improved school appearance and atmosphere

References:

NWF “Schoolyard Habitats”
SEER: “Closing the Achievement Gap”
Learning Through Landscapes (UK), OECD Research Report

Three children dressed in school uniforms, carrying school supplies, walking on a grassy area near a stone wall in a sunny outdoor setting.

Four children sitting on a porch with binders and papers, sunlight casting shadows, a brick wall and green plants in the background.

Children and adults planting a garden or preparing soil outdoors, some using shovels and others observing.

A group of children and adults sitting on the carpeted floor, looking at Learnscapes picture books.

Four children in blue school uniforms sitting at a table, with one girl pointing at a diagram on a whiteboard held by another child, during a classroom Learnscapes group project activity.

Group of young girls and an adult woman standing outdoors on a school campus, wearing matching T-shirts with the Learnscapes eye and leaf design, some smiling and facing the camera.

A group of children and an adult gathered around a table, looking at a large paper with diagrams, in a Learnscapes workshop classroom setting.

School bulletin board with photos, diagrams, and decorations about a playground project, titled 'Learnscapes', featuring colourful paper flowers, animal cutouts, and a checkerboard pattern.

Group of school children and a landscape architect standing around a miniature model of a Learnscapes project, with flags representing different countries.

Five children sitting on a bench in a school hallway, with a colorful mural above them.

Brick pavement with various hand-drawn illustrations and names, including children, flowers, hearts, and scribbles, each with different years and notes.

A decorative walkway with various colourful fish and sea creatures on a blue background, surrounded by red brick pavement.

Colorful playground with wooden structures, metal railings, and stairs surrounded by trees and greenery.

A backyard playground with a wooden slide and a playhouse made of sand-colored bricks with small windowed openings.

A makeshift outdoor fire pit with a brick border, wooden logs, and a metal pipe, surrounded by sand and trees, with a metal fence and some trees in the background.

A small blue plastic shed in a park or garden area with trees and grass, surrounded by two trash bins.

A small wooden bridge with rope railing in a park or garden, with trees and two people standing near a large rock on the right side.

A large outdoor gathering of children and adults seated on the grass under trees, possibly for a school or community event, with colorful balloons and decorations around a small wooden bridge.

Detailed map of Grafton High Reliance Central Court with labeled pathways, gardens, courts, and features including sculpture garden, game areas, murals, and pathways.

Sustainability means meeting present needs without harming future generations. It involves respect, responsibility, inclusion, and care for all life. Schools support this through sustainable practices, curriculum, and partnerships. By reducing their ecological footprint and promoting lifelong learning, schools help build a fair, responsible, and environmentally conscious society for the future.

National AAEE Conference Paper.pdf

Inspire, Create, Transform: Photo Sets for Dynamic Learning Environments

All photographs are the exclusive copyright of Helen Tyas Tunggal, Learnscapes Planning and Design, Australia.

These inspirational photo sets showcase real-world examples of thoughtfully designed learning environments—adaptable, inclusive, and full of practical insight for educators and planners at every level.

The full collection is available by request, with appropriate acknowledgement of Helen Tyas Tunggal required for any use.

Discover the vision. Be inspired. Request your copy and bring fresh ideas to your learning space.

LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 1 Climbing and Balance
LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 2 Swings, Hammocks and Flying Foxes
LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 3 Water Play
LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 4 Sandpits and Tunnels
LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 5 Rolling, Bouncing, Riding, Running
LEARNSCAPES Active Play and Learning Set 6 See Saws and Slides
LEARNSCAPES Creative Play and Learning Set 1 Boats, Cubbies and Cubby Building
LEARNSCAPES Creative Play and Learning Set 2 Music in the Garden
LEARNSCAPES Creative Play and Learning Set 3 Mazes and Labyrinths
LEARNSCAPES Creative Play and Learning Set 5 Seasonal Colour Gardens
LEARNSCAPES Creative Play and Learning Set 6 Living Structures
LEARNSCAPESOutdoor Art Set 1 Art in the Garden
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Art Set 2 Sculptures and Totems
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Art Set 3 Murals
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Art Set 4 Mosaics
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Art Set 5 Paving and Pavement Painting
LEARNSCAPES Habitat Haven Set 1 Native Grasses and Native Gardens
LEARNSCAPES Habitat Haven Set 2 Ponds
LEARNSCAPES Habitat and Stormwater Management Set 3 Dry Creek Beds
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 1 Path-ways
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 2 Bridges and Boardwalk
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 3 Platforms, Decks, Stages, Steps
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 4 Fences
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 5 Entrances and Gateways
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Structures Set 6 Gazebos, Shade and Shelters
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Seating Set 1 Amphitheatre Seating
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Seating Set 2 Individual and Small Group
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Seating Set 3 Medium Groups
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Seating Set 4 Large Groups
LEARNSCAPES Outdoor Seating Set 5 Outdoor Table Settings