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
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
Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador: Preparing Outdoor Spaces For Imaginative & Risky Play Thanks to everyone who joined in from Newfoundland and
School gardens are fraught with systemic barriers that can take the joy out of outdoor learning. In this workshop we will explore practical and simple solutions for getting your school growing and learning outdoors.
Kids in school means way too much school paper is coming home. Even in this digital age, there is an ungodly amount of paperwork that
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My most despised chore used to be laundry. Mostly because, with three small kids, it was such a never ending story. The monotony of sorting, washing, folding and getting it
To support the families and teachers we work with in the outdoor classroom, we’ve put together this list of ideas for playful learning outdoors in May during Covid-19. You can
In this workshop we’ll explore how your school-yard can provide endless inspiration for creative and imaginative artistic representations that are eco-friendly and consume less ‘stuff’!
If you are going to have a school garden, then be sure to plan some space to grow your own pumpkins. Pumpkins are easy to grow, have a big impact
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