Let’s Go Outside: The Life of a Year 3 Explorer

What does it really mean to be an explorer?

In Year 3, students discovered that exploration is not just about travelling to exotic places; it is about observing carefully, thinking creatively and exploring the environment. The students’ learning journey did not start with maps or backpacks, but with a simple question: What does an explorer need to survive and can you draw an explorer?

With board markers and whiteboards in hand, students drew their own explorers, naming them and deciding what made each one unique. They then listed the items they might take on an expedition, carefully explaining their choices and thinking about what was truly necessary rather than what was merely comfortable.

With an explorer mindset switched on, the students headed outside to explore. Using the trees, plants and natural features around our campus, they began to consider how explorers use their environment for shelter. After finding a shaded area, they asked an important question: Could we really survive here for one night? They explored imaginative possibilities for how shelters could be built, picturing everything from simple leaf-covered hideaways to sturdy structures designed to withstand the elements. As they talked, they considered what an explorer would need to make a night outdoors as comfortable as possible – warmth to keep the cold at bay, dryness to protect against rain and a sense of safety to rest peacefully. Just as importantly, they wondered about the challenges that might interrupt a night’s sleep: insects, mysterious forest sounds, sudden changes in weather, or even complete darkness. Together, they discussed how a prepared explorer might anticipate and overcome these nighttime obstacles, turning a wild environment into a place of adventure rather than discomfort.

The exploration did not stop there. Students visited several different areas around the campus, comparing them and deciding which would be the best place to settle. Each time, students were encouraged to think like explorers, weighing up risks, advantages and comfort before making a decision. “I would sleep by the water as the sound would send me to sleep,” said one student, while another remarked that they would stay up in the trees to remain safe.

The experience helped students understand that explorers are not just brave, they are thoughtful, observant and respectful of the environment. By stepping outside of their classroom, Year 3 discovered that exploration can begin right here at Patana, amongst the trees and wildlife.