Bringing Literacy to Life: Moving Beyond the Classroom Walls 📚🌳
👉Last week in preperation for our writing lesson, my studnets brought our class book Arthur and the Golden Rope to life! Together, we explored Arthur’s incredible journey across the ocean to the Land of the Gods, mapping journey and the challenges he faced using chalk on the playground (including his battle with the mighty KRAKEN🐙). […]
Why Teaching Outdoors Is So Important To Me
As a teacher, I often reflect on my time as a student, trying to remember what it was like for me at the age I now teach. Recently, when presenting a session on outdoor learning for the Institute for Outdoor Learning Global Conference. I decided to start with a story. This story explains my ‘Why’—why […]
Father’s Hope: Nurturing Our Children’s Connection to Nature
Watching my daughter stare in wide-eyed wonder at the great outdoors fills me with a teacher’s resolve. This natural connection, blossoming at such a young age, must be nurtured. In our fast-paced world, many children lack regular access to nature. Busy schedules, urban living, and safety concerns can create a barrier to exploring the wonders […]
Enhance Your Neurodivergent Students School Experience: Get Outdoors!
Do you have neurodivergent students struggling to focus in the classroom? An option that could help is to get outdoors! Research shows that outdoor learning is great for all kids. 👉Learning outside is not just about fresh air and fun. It also helps: 🌱Reduce stress and anxiety: Nature’s calming influence helps regulate emotions. 🌱Improve focus […]
Miniature Gardens: Bring nature into the classroom
The KS2 children had a wonderful time learning about their class book “The Hobbit” while designing and growing their own “Shire” inspired gardens. Benefits of minianture gardens: 1.Hands-on learning: Develops fine motor skills and observation abilities. 2.STEM education: Explore plant life cycles, ecosystems, and geology. 3.Creativity: Encourages imaginative play and problem-solving. 4 Sustainability: Teaches about […]
Beyond Words: Decoding Nonverbal Communication in Students with ADHD 🧠
As teachers we Look for ways to unlock deeper connections and understanding with our ADHD students? I recently did a little research around this topic and found that the key 🔑 might lie beyond spoken words. Nonverbal communication (NVC) plays a critical role in the classroom. Facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can […]
Creating Inclusive Outdoor Learning Experiences for Diverse Learners
Discover how outdoor learning can be used and adapted to embrace and support diverse learners’ unique needs and abilities, providing an inclusive educational environment. This blog will spotlight the versatility of outdoor learning, highlighting its benefits and the various strategies that make it accessible for all students. From sensory activities to kinesthetic tasks, we’ll explore […]
Discovering Math in Nature Through Patterns, Shapes, Natural Materials and More…
Venture outside the classroom and into the natural world, where mathematics isn’t just numbers on paper but a visible part of our environment. This blog will explore learning math outside through finding patterns in nature, using scavenger hunts to enhance learning, using natural materials for number work and revealing how symmetry and shapes manifest in […]
Simple and Fun Science Taught Outdoors
One of my favourite parts of my job is encouraging young learners’ scientific curiosity by utilising outdoor environments and natural materials. This blog will walk you through simple, fun scientific lessons enhanced by being taught outside or using common natural materials. We’ll discover the advantages of learning science outdoors. Get ready for various kid-focused activities […]
What Is Outdoor Learning?
The Institute of Outdoor Learning (2020) defines outdoor learning as a broad term that includes discovery, experimentation, learning about and connecting to the natural world, and engaging in environmental and adventure activities. Within primary education, there is a focus on educationally legitimising outdoor learning. Hence, outdoor learning is commonly becoming viewed as a pedagogical […]