Archives | Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

Check out this greenhouse

Sep 23, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening

When I facilitate courses for the Early Years team in Aberdeen City, most of them happen in different establishments. I like this for several reasons. I get to find out more about a school and its nursery class. All the participants get an opportunity to visit and see...

The Forbidden Fun of a Compost Bin

Sep 15, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening, Play Resources

I know some people think it is inappropriate to allow or even encourage children to play with items that are not proper toys. But very often it is these objects that are open-ended and have a high play value because there is no fixed purpose or pre-defined way of...

A Recycled Sandpit Kitchen

Sep 13, 2012 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Early Years Outdoors

Last week I was facilitating an evening training session up at Gardenstown Playgroup. It is one of the privileges of my work, that I get to visit different settings and to see lots of different ideas in action. I particularly like seeing what settings do with small...

Axioms of Sensorimotor Play

Sep 8, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Play Resources

Most classes love any water play. Many children will join in and explore with enthusiasm and gusto in their own preferred styles. Many years ago, one of Tom Sensori’s blog posts was very helpful in terms of understanding the behaviour and actions of my group in...

Outdoor Play with Bread Crates

Sep 5, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Play Resources

Bread crates have to be one of the toughest and most versatile resources around. At the school where I work on Fridays, they are used daily by children in a free flow capacity and during lunch times too. One question I am often asked is, “What learning is taking...