In our earlier blog sharing what we love about outdoor learning we asked what you love about outdoor learning. In this one, we shall share some ideas to help you get outside to celebrate the 5th of November, Outdoor Classroom Day.
Love Stories
One of our absolute favourite stories outside is our Greenman story. It is all about a gent who ends up living in the woods and learning to care for them. It is amazing for inspiring writing and creating art. You can sign up to our mailing list here to get a free copy of the story and ideas to accompany it.
Love Maths
The outdoors can give you a huge space to explore measure and you can link it to your class project. If you are learning about dinosaurs you could measure how big tyrannosaurus rex (15.2m) is compared to diplodocus (27m) or a velociraptor (1.8m). Or what about sea animals? The different distances people can jump. Or using ratio and measuring out the distance of the planets (you will likely need to leave school grounds or us google maps for this one!).
Love RME
We all know what mandalas are thanks to the raise of adult colouring books. But do our children and young people know that mandala is Sanskrit for circle? And that it is a geometric design holding a great deal of symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist cultures? You can create stunning mandalas using materials in the playground or back garden. I have even seen some created using litter, what a big statement that has!
Love Health and Wellbeing
Mindfulness is a wonderful way to calm the mind and help us focus. It takes time and practice to develop but is so good for us. You can help children develop this through creating a regular time to take them outside and allowing them to find a place to sit or walk. Encourage them to work through each of their senses. What can they hear? What can colours can they see? What can they smell? How does the wind and temperature feel against their skin? This is a wonderful technique that can be practised at any time, any place. But doing it outdoors gives a greater sense of space, which can help you feel a little more alone and free. It can also help children begin to really notice the change of the seasons.
Love Art
There are some amazing land artists out there. Can your children research them? Who do they discover? What is their art like? What materials do they use? Can their art be recreated? Art is not just to be found in galleries, it really can be anywhere.
If you would like more ideas and explanations in how to adapt these activities for children in primary 1 through to primary 7 then our membership site is for you! You can find it here
