Drying and Managing Wet Clothes in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Settings
How can we manage wet clothes and gear when we work in places not geared up to coping with the aftermath of outdoor activities? I’ve been rummaging through my collection of photos and here’s some ideas. Please do chip in, if you have any other good...St Andrew’s Day – 10 Outdoor Celebrations
30th November – St Andrew’s Day – is regarded as Scotland’s National Day. Increasing number of people living in Scotland make the most of the day to celebrate Scottish traditions and culture. I rather like that Saint Andrew is the...Halloween – 10+ Fearsomely Good Outdoor Ideas
Halloween is a day where dressing up and having fun outside is celebrated. The origins of this festival are a matter of debate but this article is a useful starting point for any teacher wishing to acknowledge the cultural or religious connections. It is connected to...Woozy wasps and learning about bees
In late summer, wasps are growing woozy. Most don’t have much longer to live. The female wasps that have mated will leave the nest to hibernate over winter, so the social structure of the nest begins to go awry and the nest starts closing down for winter! At...Back to School? 10 Reasons to Get Outside the First Week Back
Schools in Scotland are shortly starting back after the summer holidays. Very often, teachers decide that “now is not the time” to be taking children outside, which is a pity as there’s lots of good reasons to be outside from the first day back: 1)...What’s your coffee worth? Why training days and consultancy cost what they do
I have been fortunate enough to have been a freelance education consultant for many years and recently retired. The only element of my work I hated was having to charge a fee. But like most of us in society, I needed income to cover the costs of living so it was an...The Neurodiversity Umbrella Project
The ADHD Foundation is a charity that supports neurodiversity. It claims that 1 in 5 people who have a neurodevelopmental condition. This could be ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia or Tourette’s Syndrome. The ADHD Foundation wants to change...Tyres in School Grounds
I am aware that confusion and controversy exists around the use of tyres. I hope this blog post is informative and helpful so that adults who work with children can make sensible decisions based upon their own specific context. It has been written in good faith based...Accreditations, Award Schemes and Outdoor Learning
When training or working with schools, I am often asked about different award schemes or accreditations. Or more to the point, school staff usually inform me that they are going for X award or Y status. A quirk of outdoor learning is the sheer abundance of awards to...International Outdoor, Nature and Forest Kindergartens
There are a growing number of organisations and Facebook groups dedicated to ensuring children have lots of free time in nature as part of their early childhood. Browse the following to get a feel for them: American Forest Kindergarten AssociationChild and Nature...Sandpits Outside – Challenging Myths and Misconceptions
Please check your local and national guidelines regarding the use of sand. It would appear that different countries within and beyond the UK may have different guidance in relation to Covid 19 and hygiene requirements . Sandpits are one of the best features for...Outdoor Learning and Play: FREE Podcasts and Webinars
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been asked to contribute to a few podcasts and webinars. So I thought it may be good for you to be able to access these in one place. It does take time on the side of the presenter to put these together so many thanks to those...100’s of wonderful outdoor and nature-based ideas from around the world-wide-web
This blog post I created tosupport educators access outdoor ideas and materials during lockdown.Yet it still feels like a useful blog post. Please do tell me, if you find a great website or resource. As usual, you will have to decide what activities are appropriate...Connecting Nature Pedagogy and Forest School: Joining the Dots
Over the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of reading through a recently published book The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy by Jon Cree and Marina Robb. This book has been a long time in the making and given its hefty size of 400 pages,...15+ Alternatives to Using Laminated Sheets Outside
When I left teaching college in the early Nineties, laminated sheets were not used. If we really needed something covered we had to use stickyback plastic. It was expensive and you learned to develop the knack of avoiding lines and bubbles appearing. In my outdoor and...Playground Games and Why It’s Worth Every Educator Knowing Some and Using Them
I’m sure that many of you remember your playtimes well – much more than your maths lessons or what happened in the month of March in Year 5. If you consider children are at school for six hours or more on a school day, then the hour or 75 minutes allocated...“Outdoor Learning” or “Learning Outdoors”? What’s the Difference?
I’d like you to image a scenario where you are standing in a classroom and there is a choice of 2 doors to get outside. Both are brown. When you open either of them, they lead into the school grounds or a forest or a beach or any other place outside. You turn to...The National Curriculum Outdoors
This is a brand-new, set of 5 books about teaching outside. Given the outdoor emphasis as children and staff return to school, it’s a timely publication. It has been a tremendous undertaking by the authors: Deborah Lambert, Michelle Roberts and Sue Waite. Years...10 wishes for being stuck at home (but not stuck inside)
NOTE: Since 20:30 on 23 March 2020, please ignore the comments about playing outside BEYOND your garden, backyard or similar, if you live in the UK. If you live in other countries, follow the advice of your Government. It’s the scenario we never wanted. Almost...
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Recent Posts
Story Stones and Thinking SkillsA little stone can give a lot of empowerment in a funny sort of way.
Outdoor Toilets and ChildrenWhen children need to go they need to go!
Hand hygiene outdoorsRemoving one of the barriers to working outside with groups.
12 reasons to have stumps in your outdoor spaceStumped for ideas? Check out this blog post about why every school needs a stump or several!
Dunblane Nature Kindergarten – A transformation from traditional to nature-based practiceFantastic example of positive impact of nature-based practice.
Legacy and LossWhat’s your professional and personal impact?
Education Scotland Outdoor Learning Webinars FREE to viewLots of free outdoor learning webinars all in one place from Education Scotland
Out to Play 12: Caring for Our Outdoor SpacesJust published. Time-saving links and a download.
Compass Points – Outdoor Suggestions15+ ways to learn about compass directions – all in a download.
7 Conker Games and AdviceEvery school needs a conker tree
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