Sooke Teachers’ Association

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 our schools. We’ll explore pedagogies of play and place while considering how these approaches can be used to joyfully engage children in cross-curricular learning from K-7. Leave with practical tips for how to implement a covid compatible outdoor play and learning practice. Tools and resources to articulate why outdoor play is so critical for self-regulated learning and enacting the the First People’s Principles of learning will also be shared. Megan will be returning to present in person in May, sharing practical, hands on examples in urban and forest environments.

Links to blog posts and resources you may find helpful are below:

Session One (Introduction to outdoor play and learning)

Transition to teaching outdoors tips for teachers

What to wear teaching outdoors

Best outdoor learning clothing for kids

Dinosaur gardens

Fairy gardens

Mud kitchens

Bug hotel

Butterfly garden

How to build a tippy tap

School garden grants available for BC teachers

Best books for introducing loose parts play outdoors

Session Two & Three (Primary & Intermediate):

Rainy day play ideas

Best books about rain

Story stones

Shadow puppets

Vocabulary vases

Storytelling in nature

Patterns in nature

Mandalas

Best nature books that support mathematical thinking

water cycle inquiry outdoors

Tomatosphere project

What seeds need to grow

Resources:

Outdoor learning store (all the gear you are looking for: plant cards, field guides, magnifying lenses etc)

Westcoast seeds donation program

Thanks again for spending your day with me! Don’t forget to join me on Pinterest for more ideas on outdoor play and learning!