The outdoor environment as a teaching resource

The Outdoor Environment as a Teaching Resource

Mairi McLeodCASE Education

[email protected]

@CASEeducation

When We Were Young…..

• In pairs discuss a favourite early childhood memory

• Feedback to the group• How many were outdoor memories?

Why Outside?

• March 2012 : National Trust research released a report on natural childhood by Stephen Moss hi-lighting the gap between children and nature

• Less than 1 in 10 children play in wild spaces now compared to 50% a generation ago

• Natural England has calculated that equitable access to green space would create an estimated saving to the health service of £2.1Billion per year

Outdoors is Good for Mind, Body & Soul

Evidence : • Students of all ages participating in environmental education

programmes at school do better in standardized tests in maths, reading, writing and social studies : Abrams KS 1999, Last Child in the Woods Algonquin books p.206….

• Children and adults find it easier to concentrate and pay attention after spending time in nature : Wells NM 2000 At home with nature Hartig T, Mang M & Evans

• Nature provides a rich source of hands on, multi –sensory stimulation which is critical for brain development in early childhood : Rivkin MS Natural Learning

Reduces Stress - Boosts Cognitive Function

• Children’s play is more creative and egalitarian in natural areas than more structured paved areas : Faber Taylor, A. Wiley

• Views of nature reduce stress levels & speed recovery from illness, injury or stressful experiences : Frumkin H 2001, Beyond Toxicity, Human Health & the Natural Environment - American journal of Preventative Medicine 234-240

• Access to nature nurtures self discipline• Boosts cognitive function Faber Taylor, Evidence from Inner

City Children, Journal of Environmental Psychology 22 p49-63

Further Benefits

• Tackling obesity – outdoor exercise burns more calories

• Outdoor light stimulates the pineal gland – part of brain that regulates the biological clock vital to the immune system and makes us feel happier

• Being outdoors stimulates all the senses

Conkers or Tag?

• According to a 2008 study by Play England half of all children have been stopped from climbing trees

• One in five banned from playing conkers• Almost the same number told they cannot play

games of tag• As Tim Gill observes, activities that earlier

generations of children enjoyed as part of growing up are now being relabelled as troubling or dangerous

Lets Go Outside !

Choose a simple practical activity • Make a nature bangle• Record different sensory experiences• Look for different shapes in nature

Planning The Outdoor Area

Get in the zone!• Think about how you would like your area to

develop• Ask the pupils to help you with the design• Hold a competition• Do you have any green fingered creative

parents?

Fun Tactile Seating

Children Love Worms!

Create a Simple Wormery

Compost Corner !

Hunt for Mini Beasts

Research and Record

Sculpture & Seating

Harvesting Fruit

Build a Den – Who Lives Here?

Develop a Listening Corner

Interpretation Boards

Musical Instruments

Fun Using Old Pots & Pans

Consider setting up a lunch or after school environment club

Useful websites

• http://www.opalexplorenature.org/kidszone

• http://ptes.org/kids-club/

• http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/autumn

• http://www.anglianwater.co.uk/community/education/resources/key-stage-2-pack.aspx

• http://projectwildthing.com/wildtime

• http://www.youtube.com/user/SchoolGroundsUK

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3s83qVp0mE

• http://www.force.org.uk/

• http://www.ltl.org.uk/resources/results.php?id=751

• http://www.playengland.org.uk/media/70684/design-for-play.pdf

• http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/

• http://www.leef.org.uk/

• http://se-ed.co.uk/edu/

Books for outdoors

Nursery / ReceptionBrown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin JrThe Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarleWe’re going on a bear hunt by Michael RosenListen, Listen by Philis GershatorWho’s in the garden by Philis Gershator

Key Stage 1Hansel & Gretel by GrimmGoldilocks & the 3 bears R. SoutheyJaspers Beanstalk by Nick ButterworthThe enormous turnip by Alexsei TolstoyThe Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

Key Stage 2 Charlotte’s Web by E B WhiteStoryteller- the snapdragon plant -ScholasticMrs Parrot’s Rainforest by Michael CoxKing of the cloud forests by M. MorpurgoAnancy and Mr Drybone by F. FrenchFinn’s Island by E. Dunlop

Treasure Box ideas & Equipment

• Magnifying glasses• Listening devices• Ultrasound detectors• Spades • Buckets• Fabric• Dressing up• Cardboard boxes• Rope• Twine• string• Clipboards• Pencils• Laminated Identification cards• Paper• Crayons• Binoculars• Torch• Compass• Sample Pots• Camera• Wheelbarrow• Rakes