This week we are looking at planning, but lets start off thinking about the past.
I remember back when Assessment is for Learning first came in, it felt rather huge and fluffy. We all had those posters on our wall explaining traffic lights, paired assessment, and a host of other strategies we would and should use. I had to make a conscious effort to work through them, to make sure I was doing them. The guidance did not feel clear to me and I was unsettled.
But in time, it just became part of what I did. Indeed, I was already doing a lot of it but just not calling it by the faddy names. Assessment is for Learning just became part of what I would do, without really thinking about it. It became natural.
As a teacher, there are so many new fads that come along and feel that way. A bit big, a bit faddy and a bit unclear.
Despite outdoor learning being around a long time, the new emphasis upon it has led to a lot of teachers experiencing those same feelings as I had back then. And like any new initiative, we need to go through the growing pains before it becomes second nature to us.
The good news is you do not need to go through that alone. There are a ton of resources out there to help. A quick look on Amazon will show you countless books, a Pinterest search will take you down the rabbit hole of ideas, a Google search will present a plethora of websites all there to help you.
And I have no doubt that you will have some ideas as well… certainly if you have followed us for a while you will see we regularly share ideas (as well as having our book and our members site filled with curriculum plans, lessons, training, support and more 😉 )
But, when we are planning how do we make sure the lessons have a clear link and the outdoor environment is benefitting that lesson? Well, it is really simple. We have six questions we run through. These are
6 KEY PLANNING QUESTIONS
🌳Which experiences will have more impact on learning if done outdoors?
🌳How can learning outdoors enhance and deepen learning within curriculum areas?
🌳Which experiences are best suited to a combination of indoor and outdoor learning?
🌳How can learning indoors best be consolidated, progressed or enhanced using the outdoors?
🌳What opportunities exist for linking learning across the curriculum?
🌳What current affairs or events could help place learning in a more meaningful or interesting context for young people?
They are simple but they help us so much, we hope they help you too!
Please tell us, are there any questions you would add to it?
