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
Organize Seasonal Clothing With the changing of the seasons comes the bitter-sweet task of putting away all those sandals and sun hats and digging out all the boots and
Over the last twenty years I’ve been teaching and learning outside in a variety of capacities. Both as a parent and a professional educator, I
Outdoor play and learning: November 19, 2021 Join Megan Zeni for this full day workshop that collectively allows us to rethink where learning happens in
Once Covid became a realty in our schools, the urgency to take students outdoors increased. Across Canada, a return to face to face learning saw
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Those of us teaching and learning outdoors are constantly on the look out for practical and inspiring tips for keeping the kids we learn with growing in our school gardens!
The research on outdoor play is clear. Kids who get outside for at least an hour a day, rain or shine, are healthier, happier and more able to focus on
There is no shortcut on how to organize a child’s bedroom! The reality is, once you’ve committed to creating an organized bedroom for your kids you are in for a
Everyone seems to agree on the abundance of research supporting the data that reading to babies leads to school success. For a long time, we have known that children from homes
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