ENHANCING PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS: PEDAGOGICAL FOUNDATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Abstract

Educational excursions represent a powerful pedagogical instrument for consolidating and enhancing primary school pupils’ learning. By situating knowledge within real‑world contexts outside the traditional classroom, excursions stimulate cognitive engagement, promote experiential learning, and reinforce both conceptual understanding and memory retention. This paper analyzes theoretical and empirical arguments for using excursions in primary education, outlines major obstacles to their effective implementation, and proposes evidence‑based recommendations for optimizing their design and integration into school curricula. The findings indicate that when well‑planned and supported, excursions can foster scientific thinking, environmental awareness, social skills, and long-term retention of knowledge among young learners.