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
“Play is the work of the child,” wrote Maria Montessori more than 100 years ago. Most everything that a child needs for healthy development –
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
In this workshop we will explore the research on why unstructured outdoor play with loose parts is critical for developing children’s social, emotional and cognitive strengths.
In this workshop, teachers and school staff, who have existing school gardens, will explore the multitude of ways we can expand and deepen meaningful academic learning in the garden classroom.
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Thanks to everyone from the The Valley School for such a warm welcome today! What a joy it is to share my love for unstructured outdoor play in schools! Here
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 around them. With children of
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 garlic with kids in just
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
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