What I’ve Learned About Natural Learning Spaces – Lessons for Grandparents and Communities

I never paid much attention to school buildings when I was young – they were just places you went to learn, usually pretty sterile affairs with fluorescent lights and cinder block walls. But watching my grandchildren navigate their educational experiences, and seeing some of the changes happening in schools today, has gotten me thinking about how much the physical environment actually matters for learning.

My granddaughter Emma has been struggling with focus issues – what they used to call hyperactivity when I was her age, though now they have better understanding of ADHD and sensory processing differences. Her parents were frustrated because traditional classroom settings seemed to make her problems worse. That got me researching what I could do to help create better study spaces at home, which led me down a rabbit hole of learning about something called biophilic design in schools.

## Why Natural Elements Help Kids Learn Better

Turns out there’s solid research behind what our grandparents probably knew instinctively – that kids learn better when they’re connected to nature. Two main theories explain this: Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Reduction Theory. I’m no psychologist, but the basic idea makes sense to me.

**Attention Restoration Theory**

Kids today are dealing with constant mental fatigue from screens, structured activities, and information overload. Natural elements apparently help restore their ability to focus and pay attention. I read about something called the “Eden Project” where a London school added green rooftops and plant-filled atriums. After they made these changes, test scores improved and teachers reported that kids could concentrate better and for longer periods.

This matches what I’ve observed with my grandkids. When they’re outside in our garden, even the ones who can’t sit still indoors will spend an hour carefully examining plants or watching birds. There’s something about natural settings that captures their attention differently than artificial environments.

**Stress Reduction Theory**

The other piece is stress reduction. Kids today face pressure we didn’t have at their age, and stress makes it harder to learn and remember things. Natural elements like water features, plants, and natural light can actually reduce stress levels in measurable ways.

The University of Melbourne did a study where they added green spaces around their campus and found that students who spent time in these areas reported lower stress and better mental wellbeing. It wasn’t just about feeling calmer – their cognitive performance actually improved when stress levels dropped.

What strikes me is how these two effects work together. Less stress plus better attention equals better learning conditions. Simple as that.

## The Power of Natural Light and Good Acoustics

Having spent years modifying our home for better natural light after my wife’s stroke, I’ve seen firsthand how much lighting affects mood and mental function. Schools are finally catching on to this too.

**Natural Light Makes a Real Difference**

A major research project called “Daylighting in Schools” tracked students across three states, comparing classrooms with good natural light to those with typical fluorescent lighting. The results were impressive – kids in naturally lit classrooms had 20-26% faster learning rates for reading and performed 20-21% better overall compared to their peers in artificially lit rooms.

This doesn’t surprise me. After we enlarged the windows in our house and replaced heavy curtains with sheers, both my wife and I noticed improvements in mood and energy levels. Natural light affects your circadian rhythms, which influence everything from sleep quality to hormone levels that control alertness.

**Sound Matters Too**

Something I hadn’t considered much is how sound affects learning. Noise can be a major distraction, but the right kinds of sound can actually help concentration. Cornell University redesigned their library spaces with sound-absorbing panels made from sustainable materials and added an indoor waterfall that creates subtle background noise. Students reported better focus and productivity in these spaces.

This reminds me of how much the sound of our small water feature in the greenhouse seems to help my wife relax and concentrate on her plant work. There’s something about gentle, natural sounds that’s different from the harsh noise of air conditioning or traffic.

**Engaging All the Senses**

One Swedish school created what they called a “sensory classroom” with natural wooden surfaces, plants, and even an aquarium. They found that engaging multiple senses – sight, sound, touch, smell – increased student engagement and participation. Kids weren’t just sitting and listening; they were experiencing their learning environment in a richer way.

This makes sense to me as someone who’s learned better by doing rather than just reading about things. When I was figuring out how to build our accessible garden beds, I learned as much from touching different materials and working with my hands as I did from any book.

## Creating Spaces That Bring Students Together

One thing I’ve noticed about many modern schools is how they’re designed differently than the ones we attended. Instead of long hallways with identical classrooms, many are creating more open, flexible spaces that encourage collaboration.

**Open Spaces with Natural Elements**

Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University built something called “The Hive” – an open building with indoor plants, skylights for natural light, and flexible spaces that can be reconfigured for different activities. Students naturally gravitate toward these spaces for group work and spontaneous study sessions.

This is different from the traditional model where each classroom was its own isolated unit. These more open, nature-infused spaces seem to encourage the kind of informal learning that happens when students share ideas with each other.

**Bringing Different Subjects Together**

The Adam Joseph Lewis Center at Oberlin College is what they call a “living machine” – the building itself becomes a teaching tool. Students from different disciplines – biology, architecture, engineering, environmental science – all learn from the sustainable systems that make the building work. The wastewater treatment system teaches environmental science, while the architectural features demonstrate sustainable design principles.

This kind of interdisciplinary approach wasn’t common when I was in school, but it makes sense. Real-world problems don’t fit neatly into single subject areas, so why should learning?

**Improving Social Dynamics**

A high school in Norway added biophilic elements and found that students had more positive face-to-face interactions and less cyberbullying. The natural gathering points created by greenery and water features encouraged kids to interact in person rather than just through screens.

As someone who’s watched my grandchildren navigate social media pressures, this seems particularly important. Creating physical spaces that encourage healthy social interaction could be part of addressing some of the mental health challenges young people face today.

## Making Schools Work for All Students

One area where biophilic design shows real promise is in creating more inclusive learning environments. My experience modifying our home for accessibility has taught me how much the physical environment can either support or hinder different needs.

**Supporting Neurodiverse Learners**

The Green School in Bali uses open-air classrooms that blend with the natural environment. Students who might struggle with sensory overload in traditional closed classrooms find the natural setting – with its soft sounds, open sky, and natural scenery – actually helps them focus and retain information.

This approach would have been revolutionary when my children were in school. Back then, kids who couldn’t sit still or focus in traditional classrooms were often just labeled as problems. Now we understand that different brains need different environments to function well.

**Physical Accessibility**

The University of Arizona’s Environment and Natural Resources building integrates accessibility into their biophilic design rather than treating it as an afterthought. They use changes in textures, colors, and natural elements to help people with visual impairments navigate the space. Trees and shrubs provide natural wind barriers and shade that make outdoor areas more usable for everyone.

This reminds me of the approach we took with our accessible garden – instead of just adding ramps and grab bars, we designed the whole space to work better for limited mobility while still being beautiful and functional.

**Economic Accessibility**

The Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy in New York uses biophilic design elements like solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and indoor plants to reduce operational costs. They reinvest these savings into educational programs, making quality educational environments economically sustainable for underserved communities.

This practical approach appeals to me. Good design shouldn’t just be for wealthy districts – it should be economically sustainable and benefit the communities that need it most.

## The Economics Actually Make Sense

As someone who’s spent decades watching family budgets and making practical home improvements, I was initially skeptical about whether schools could afford these kinds of upgrades. But when you look at the long-term numbers, the economics are compelling.

**Energy Efficiency Pays Off**

Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. incorporated green roofs, solar chimneys, and natural wastewater treatment systems. They’re saving about 60% on energy costs compared to conventional buildings. Those savings can go directly back into educational programs, scholarships, and resources that benefit students.

This matches what I’ve seen with our home modifications. The upfront cost of better windows and natural lighting was significant, but our energy bills dropped enough that we’ve recouped the investment over time.

**Healthier Environments Reduce Costs**

Better air quality and reduced stress levels mean fewer sick days for both students and staff. The University of Melbourne found that just being able to see greenery reduced stress levels and strengthened immune systems. Fewer sick days means lower costs for substitute teachers and less disruption to learning.

Having dealt with my wife’s health challenges, I understand how much environment affects wellbeing. The modifications we made to bring more nature into our living spaces genuinely improved her health and reduced medical costs.

**Long-term Human Capital Benefits**

A study by Terrapin Bright Green found that better learning environments produce better educational outcomes, higher graduation rates, and more skilled workers entering the job market. The long-term economic benefits to communities far outweigh the initial investment in biophilic design.

This long-term thinking is something my generation understands well. You invest in good infrastructure – whether it’s a solid roof for your house or a quality education system for your community – because the benefits compound over decades.

**Competitive Advantages for Schools**

Aalborg University in Denmark has used their commitment to biophilic design to attract students, faculty, and partnerships with sustainability-focused organizations. Their innovative approach has increased enrollment and global recognition, which brings in additional funding and opportunities.

In today’s competitive educational landscape, schools need every advantage they can get. If biophilic design helps attract better students and faculty while reducing operational costs, that seems like a smart investment.

## Practical Applications for Families and Communities

While not everyone can redesign a school building, there are practical lessons here for families and communities. After Emma’s parents saw how much our modified garden space helped her focus during homework time, they asked for advice on creating better study environments at home.

Simple changes like maximizing natural light in study areas, adding plants to rooms where kids do homework, and creating quiet outdoor spaces for reading can make a real difference. The principles that work in schools – natural light, plants, good acoustics, comfortable seating – work at home too.

Our church has started applying some of these ideas to their Sunday school rooms and fellowship spaces. We’ve added plants, improved natural lighting, and created more flexible seating arrangements. The kids seem more engaged, and the adults report feeling more comfortable in the spaces.

I’ve also been working with our local senior center to apply these principles to their lifelong learning programs. Many of us are going back to school later in life, whether for formal classes or just personal enrichment. The same environmental factors that help children learn also benefit older adults dealing with age-related changes in cognition and sensory processing.

## Looking Forward

The research on biophilic design in education is compelling, but what really convinces me is seeing how it works in practice. When Emma spends time in our greenhouse helping with plants, she’s calmer and more focused afterward. When my wife tends her accessible garden beds, her mood improves and her pain seems more manageable.

Schools are starting to catch on to what many families and communities have known instinctively – that connecting with nature isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity for healthy development and learning. The question isn’t whether educational institutions should embrace these principles, but how quickly they can afford to implement them.

As grandparents and community members, we have a role to play in advocating for better learning environments and supporting practical applications of these ideas in our homes and neighborhoods. The research is there, the economic case is solid, and the benefits are measurable. Now it’s about making it happen.