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
It can all be taught outside: Teaching the K-7 science big ideas, core & curricular competencies in your outdoor and garden classrooms Session description Participants
Command games are a playful way for teachers to position themselves as an authority figure with large groups of children who may be reluctant to
How to Grow Rhubarb One of the most challenging aspects of running a school gardening program is planning and planting to coincide with a harvest before the
Butterflies are essential pollinator friends in our ecosystem that add to the biodiversity of any garden. When it comes to butterfly STEAM, this paper project
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What a full day we had discussing all things outdoor play and learning! Thank you to everyone who joined me today from the Okanagan-Skaha school district. In our full day
Learning about seeds is an accessible and fascinating starting point for any school garden inquiry. Gardens depend on seeds, and learning how seeds travel can deepen a child’s understanding and
If you are one of the lucky educators who got a ticket to this year’s Outdoor Learning conference, you are likely still feeling the buzz of excitement that comes from
The reality of urban living, especially in expensive cities like Vancouver, is that we often don’t have vast and unfinished basements to banish unwanted toys from our sight lines. And
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