Welcome to the Creative STAR website and blog – the digital gateway to outdoor learning and play. All free to access – enjoy exploring!
Inside these pages are lots of practical ideas about learning and playing outdoors that have been written and/or curated by myself, Juliet Robertson – a former education consultant who specialised in learning and play outside. It’s my way of giving back to the education, play and environmental sectors. I worked mainly with children aged 3-12yrs old. Feel free to:
- Read the 500+ blog posts – the tabs at the top will help guide you OR use the search button below my photo in the RH column
- Explore the comprehensive collections of literacy and maths suggestions
- Check out the grant info
- Download a pdf in the Freebies section
- Share the love – if you borrow an idea, backlink to the blog post, tell me and I’ll celebrate too 🙂
How to find what you need on this website
- There are links to pages just below the header. These are collections around themes.
- On the RH column there are mini pictures – the same categories are listed here.
- Under my personal photo in RH column is a search button. Type in a key word.
- Below is a list of my 10 most recent blog posts.
Recent blog posts (most recent first)
- Letters from sticks
- Going freelance
- Significant Scottish outdoor learning and play documents
- Simon Nicolson and the Theory of Loose Parts – 1 million thanks
- Passing the baton… or should that be a stick?
- Outdoor Nurseries and Early Learning and Childcare Scotland
- Accreditations, award schemes and outdoor learning
- Outdoor toilets and children
- Hand hygiene outdoors
- Legacy and loss – Dr Diane Kashin
- FREE Outdoor learning webinars to watch from Education Scotland
2024 Update
Life has its ups and downs. I was diagnosed with having Acute Myeloid Leukaemia – an aggressive blood cancer – in late December 2020. If you want to know how I’m getting on, then have a look at my Caring Bridge website every now and then as that’s where I post updates. The Cosy Foundation have now taken over this website and other aspects of Creative STAR Learning, for which I am very grateful. I am still curating this website and have editorial control. I have updated about 50% of the blog posts in the past 18 months but do watch as some information may be dated in the older posts.
If you would like to help me make a difference, then please consider making a donation to Flynne’s Barn, a charity which enables young people living with cancer to come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings. For more information about why I’m supporting this charity, have a look at my Flynne’s Barn page or visit their website. THANK YOU!
A positive approach to being outside
Within this website you will find lots of ideas and accompanying photos that contain elements of risk. It is important that you consider all the suggestions on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are appropriate for the developmental age and learning needs of your children. You also need to ensure that you are suitably competent and confident to ensure the routines, resources and environment are as safe as necessary. Remember to undertake a risk-benefit assessment for anything you feel needs it be this using tools and ropes, experiencing fire, climbing trees and other experiences involving heights, moving heavy objects, working off-site, near water and so-on. Creative STAR Learning is all about enabling great outdoor practice but every educator and establishment needs to undertake this within a framework of safety.
Likewise it is important that wherever you are working you follow the land access laws of your country. Being respectful of others, leaving no trace of your presence and considering the impact of your practice on the environment are all part of your responsibilities as educators.
