Book Recommendations
Best Books Supporting Loose Parts Play Outdoors
Loose parts are found or natural objects that have no specific instructions for play and are highly valued for their imaginative and creative affordances for
A stick is not a stick in the outdoor classroom. Loose parts like sticks inspire imagination and creative play, moss and bark are selfie art projects, and stones become canvases for garden literacy projects.
Loose parts are found or natural objects that have no specific instructions for play and are highly valued for their imaginative and creative affordances for
Playdough is surprisingly entertaining for kids of all ages. Adding lavender playdough as a sensorial play opportunity in the school garden becomes a delightful way
Thank you to Rene Gualtieri for contributions to this post! Not A Stick Play Having worked at a nature camp, I am very aware of
Story stones for imaginative play Rocks and stones can be considered a “loose part”. That means they do not have a pre-determined story attached to
Earth-friendly Ice Art Learning and playing outdoors has multiple benefits for both children and adults. Teachers and caregivers looking for ways to get kids playing
The emergent curriculum is a valuable tool for student directed inquiry in any outdoor classroom. I often have specific plans for my students that are
Walking, working and playing in nature invites children’s imaginations to create stories that reflect their lived experiences, their wonders and their understandings of the world
A Seed Mandala Art Project Mandalas have a long history of therapeutic use and are often appreciated for having spiritual meaning. There is an enormous
International Mud Day is June 29th this year, and if you are going to have a garden with kids, it makes sense to have a
Fall is the perfect time to reflect on the growing season and have children work with the bounty of the garden and school-yard! Nature crafts
Executive functioning is a term that teachers use to describe a child’s ability to plan ahead, be on time and prepare or organize for the
Of all the crops you can grow with kids, garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding. Read on to learn how to grow
I love to garden. I love the peacefulness, I love watching things grow under my care and I love that I can see both immediate
Teaching outside has a long list of challenges, and trying to complete paper crafts in the wind, rain or snow tops my list of tasks that
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Pumpkin Life Cycle Books One of the best plants to grow in school gardens has to be pumpkins. Pumpkins are planted and harvested during the school year, providing rich opportunities
My role as a teacher is always evolving. Over the past 25 years, I’ve taught just about every grade in public elementary schools across two provinces. For the past seven
Fall is the perfect time to reflect on the growing season and have children work with the bounty of the garden and school-yard! Nature crafts and art project ideas that
If play is truly the work of the child, then dress up play must be the ultimate job description! Imaginative, fantasy play is achievable when just a few props are