William H. Farquhar Middle School, Olney, MD. Photo credit: Patrick Ross
School Health Research Library
We have curated a library of peer-reviewed scientific studies from around the world published since 2016, focusing on the school built environment and occupant health and performance. This research builds on the 2017 Schools for Health: Foundations for Student Success report released by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that synthesizes foundational research about school indoor environmental quality impacts on students and staff.
To help translate this research into action in schools, we have compiled School Health Research Highlights to help school staff and leaders access key findings and actionable strategies on priority topics.
Displaying 351 - 360 of 680 | Export entire research library
Association Between Greenness Surrounding Schools and Kindergartens and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children in China
Yang, Bo-Yi
A cross-sectional study of 59,754 children in 7 Chinese cities used vegetation indexes to assess school greenness. Greener environments were linked to lower odds of ADHD symptoms, supporting nature-based planning for child mental health.
Keywords: None listed by authors
Urban greenery, active school transport, and body weight among Hong Kong children
Yang, Yiyang
A survey of 1,148 Hong Kong primary students examined how greenery around schools related to active transport and BMI. Structural modeling revealed greener areas promoted walking and healthier weight, supporting green infrastructure for childhood…
Keywords: urban greenery, Physical activity, active transport, BMI, childhood obesity, School environment
Reconfiguring relational space: a qualitative study of the benefits of caring for hens for the socio-emotional development of 5 - 9-year-old children in an urban junior school context of high socio-economic exclusion
Gilligan, Ciara
A qualitative study explored how daily hen care at an urban Irish school helped 5-9-year-olds build empathy, responsibility, and calm. Teachers noted greater motivation and peer cooperation, suggesting benefits for social-emotional development in…
Keywords: hens, care, Socio-emotional, personal and social development, poverty, outdoor education, diametric space, concentric space
Teacher and student perceptions of an outdoor classroom
Guardino, Caroline
Mixed-methods study of 2 teachers and 37 kindergarteners comparing indoor vs. outdoor classroom revealed increased well-being and attention, especially for children with disabilities, supporting outdoor learning’s value for inclusive education.
Keywords: Outdoor classroom, Learning environment, nature contact, Attention, Well-being, disability, special needs
Nature contact at school: The impact of an outdoor classroom on children’s well-being
Largo-Wight, Erin
A 6-week crossover experiment in kindergarten classrooms compared indoor vs. outdoor settings. Teachers noted fewer behavioral redirections and modest well-being benefits in the outdoor condition, suggesting nature contact may promote student health.
Keywords: Nature contact intervention, Outdoor classroom, Green school, children
A national research agenda supporting green schoolyard development and equitable access to nature
Stevenson, Kathryn T.
This policy-oriented paper proposes a research agenda to support equitable access to green schoolyards in the U.S. Authors outline evidence gaps and cross-sector policy strategies to integrate nature into school environments and improve student…
Keywords: green schoolyards, Education, policy, research agenda, children & nature, sustainable communities
Impacts of Outdoor Environmental Education on Teacher Reports of Attention, Behavior, and Learning Outcomes for Students With Emotional, Cognitive, and Behavioral Disabilities
Szczytko, Rachel
Quasi-experimental study of 161 fifth-grade students with disabilities in North Carolina. Outdoor environmental education improved attention and behavior per teacher reports. Findings support environmental education as an inclusive, science-aligned…
Keywords: environmental education, Attention, Behavior, classroom, schoolyard, learning impairment, disability
Assessing a School Gardening Program as an Integrated Component of a Pilot Farm-to-school Initiative Based in South Carolina
Taylor, Carl
Online survey of 37 trained South Carolina educators assessed school gardens’ role in academics and cafeterias. Findings support garden-based learning as a low-cost path to student health and learning gains.
Keywords: School gardens, garden-based learning, experiential learning, Academic performance, childhood obesity
Attentional Demands of Executive Function Tasks in Indoor and Outdoor Settings: Behavioral and Neuroelectrical Evidence
Torquati, Julia
Within-subjects experiment using brainwave monitoring found children performed better on spatial working memory tasks outdoors. Findings suggest natural environments support executive function and cognitive development in young students.
Keywords: Attention, spatial working memory, EEG, inhibitory control, cognitive resources, executive functions
School gardens and adolescent nutrition and BMI: Results from a national, multilevel study
Utter, Jennifer
National multilevel study of 8,500 NZ adolescents found school gardens linked to lower BMI and reduced overweight risk. Supports health equity in deprived communities.
Keywords: adolescent, Nutrition, BMI, garden, School, multilevel