Bringing Nature and Museums into the Classroom: Lessons from the Inspire Nature Project

In early 2021, as museum doors remained closed and classrooms faced unprecedented challenges, the University of Cambridge Museums (UCM) team set out to bridge the gap between their collections and teachers navigating a world of remote learning.

How could the wonder of Cambridge’s museums and Botanic Garden be brought into the classroom digitally? This was the challenge faced by Sarah-Jane Harknett, Evaluation Co-ordinator at UCM, and Kate Noble, Senior Research Associate at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

The result was Inspire Nature, a five-part online professional development programme for primary school teachers, designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and connection with the natural world. Involving nine collections and 15 educators from across the University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden, the project served as a unique experiment in digital engagement and cross-curricular learning.

A Collaborative Response to a Changing Landscape

Back in 2016, UCM had explored what teachers needed from digital resources through a targeted research project. While this laid important groundwork, the context of 2021 was drastically different. The pandemic had transformed digital learning from a supplementary tool to an essential part of education.

Teachers were facing immense pressure, and museum professionals had to rethink how they could support schools effectively. Inspire Nature aimed to meet these challenges head-on.

Delivered during the February 2021 lockdown, Inspire Nature consisted of five online sessions, each thematically exploring water, skies, trees, rocks, and viewpoints. Educators showcased a rich variety of objects, including natural specimens, scientific tools, paintings, archaeological artefacts, and anthropological collections.

Supporting materials were shared via Padlet, an online platform that allows users to collaborate and organise resources in virtual bulletin boards. This enabled teachers to access high-quality images, videos, activity ideas, and question prompts to use in their classrooms.

A Space for Creative Learning and Teacher Wellbeing

For many teachers, Inspire Nature offered more than just professional development; it became a space to pause, reflect, and re-energise. The sessions focused on practical, hands-on ideas, encouraging teachers to experiment with found objects, explore their surroundings creatively, and share their own experiences.

From modelling sculptures out of household materials to drawing inspiration from objects like Jim Ede’s Pebbles at Kettle’s Yard, the programme empowered teachers to think beyond traditional classroom resources.

Feedback underscored the programme’s impact on teacher wellbeing at a time of widespread stress. One participant described it as “gentle and inspiring”, while others praised the opportunity to learn creatively and rediscover the joy of curiosity. In fact, 70% of participants reported that the sessions had a positive effect on their sense of wellbeing.

Accessibility and Impact

A significant benefit of the digital format was accessibility. Teachers from across the UK—including those in rural areas or with limited access to museums—could participate, removing practical barriers like travel and cover costs.

The project reached over 50 schools, with 68 educators attending live sessions and many more accessing resources later. The ability to revisit content, particularly through Padlet and recordings, ensured long-term value for participants, who often shared ideas across departments.

The cross-curricular approach was another key success. By uniting objects under broad themes, the sessions encouraged collaboration among teachers of art, science, geography, and design. This interdisciplinary focus mirrored the collaborative delivery of the sessions, where educators from different museums modelled idea-sharing and open inquiry.

Key Learnings and Challenges

While the programme succeeded in many areas, it also highlighted challenges. For children with complex needs, the digital format proved limiting, reinforcing the importance of multisensory, in-person engagement. For example, tactile experiences with objects or sensory-rich environments, which are vital for many learners, were impossible to replicate online.

Moving forward, the team identified opportunities to integrate more inclusive digital resources, such as interactive 3D object models, sensory prompts, or hybrid in-person and digital workshops to better support these learners. Moving forward, the team identified opportunities to create more inclusive digital resources while continuing to support classroom-based learning.

Additionally, Inspire Nature demonstrated that teachers often benefit from seeing the connections between their existing resources and museum collections. Everyday objects, when viewed creatively, can inspire cross-curricular teaching and foster deeper connections with the natural world.

Tips for Online Teaching Training

Reflecting on their experience, the UCM team shared three key takeaways for museums developing online teacher training programmes:

1. Collaboration is key

Working across multiple collections and disciplines not only strengthened Inspire Nature but also introduced teachers to underutilised museum resources. Collaboration between museums allowed smaller institutions to amplify their reach and share their unique expertise.

2. Empower teachers as experts

Leave space for teachers to adapt ideas, follow their interests, and apply their expertise in the classroom. By modelling open-ended approaches and encouraging inquiry, Inspire Nature built teachers’ confidence to work with collections independently.

3. Create space for creativity and wellbeing

Encouraging playful exploration and reflection benefits both teachers and their students, particularly during challenging times. Inspire Nature demonstrated that digital programming can provide vital opportunities to recharge and reconnect with the joy of learning.

A Model for Future Engagement

Inspire Nature demonstrates how museums can remain relevant and responsive by creatively engaging with teachers and schools. By blending practical tools, expert knowledge, and a focus on wellbeing, the University of Cambridge Museums successfully brought the wonder of their collections into classrooms across the country.

For museum professionals seeking to develop meaningful digital engagement strategies, Inspire Nature offers an inspiring example of innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

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Sarah-Jane Harknett and Kate Noble spoke at the Museum Learning Summit 2023.