Aug 21, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Technologies
In 2001, on a Comenius outdoor learning course in Sweden, I had the opportunity to try felting. It was a disaster. I managed to dye my wool using fresh young birch leaves and carded it reasonably well. But the felting process was my failing. I returned home, my...
Aug 18, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Community Involvement
This is one of the most emotional posts I have written. Last December, Rachel Singer, a primary teacher I worked with many years ago, died from bowel cancer. She was in her forties. Kinellar School was the only place she taught, beginning in nursery and eventually...
Jun 11, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Personal & Holidays
Since visiting Sweden in 2008 as part of my Churchill Fellowship, I have been inspired by the felted seats I saw at Mulleborg I Ur och Skur (In Rain of Shine) Outdoor Nursery. I came home and in due course acquired some merino wool to make my first felted seat. To my...
Mar 23, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Play Resources
I love surprises. The Frank Kitts Playground on the waterfront in Wellington gave me a brilliant one. I was walking along, minding my own business, when out of nowhere rose this wonderful play structure. If you look carefully you can see the albatross weather vane...
Mar 14, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Science Outdoors
Here in Scotland, our younger children are expected to have fun creating a range of symmetrical pictures and patterns using a range of media. Immediately the outdoor possibilities of such experiences run riot in my mind where the explorations can be bigger, better and...
Feb 27, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors
Weaving is an art form which lends itself remarkably well to an outdoor context. The opportunity to weave using natural materials or artificial materials on a bigger scale to indoors is exciting. There is freedom and space to behold! Big impromptu weaving moments are...
Feb 10, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors
When I pick up two stones on a beach and begin to tap them together, a slight shiver goes down my spine. Not for negative reasons, but with each clink I am reminded about who I am and where I’m from. I know that thousands of years ago, adults and children will...
Feb 9, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Technologies
In 2013 I had the privilege of working at Broadford Primary School in Romford. The school had put a lot of effort into developing its school grounds. An outdoor music area had been installed and I really liked what I saw. ©Saul and The Junk Orchestra Fixed...
Feb 8, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces
Big outdoor musical instruments are a lot of fun. It’s possible to buy or make tunes and untuned percussion instruments. If you are buying an instrument, ask to hear a recording of the sound it makes when played. Do not purchase instruments that have an...
Feb 7, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors
This blog post was originally published many years ago. However the process Mile End School Nursery in Aberdeen used to create the music wall remains a good example a process that involves the children and began with their interest in exploring sounds. The nursery...
Jan 7, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Literacy Outdoors
This blog post is about exploring the links between literacy and birds through the medium of an an arts-based regeneration project based upon the bird life around the area of Morecambe Bay. A Flock of Words, was created by Gordon Young, Russ Coleman and Why Not...
Dec 28, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Technologies
Previously I blogged about making felt seats. These items are lightweight and portable and thus ideal for many outdoor activities on the go. I’ve continued to experiment with them. My first attempts were rough and I learned a lot through trial and error. The...
Nov 19, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Literacy Outdoors
I first got into puppets as a child when I attended a holiday camp and was involved in making puppets for a performance of Treasure Island. As a countryside ranger, one of my jobs was to work alongside a professional puppeteer, Sylvia Troon, during a holiday club for...
Nov 13, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Literacy Outdoors
I really like making the most of every bit of space in an outdoor area. Trees are of particular value because the space around their base, the bark and the branches are all opportunities for displays and studies. Here’s a lovely art project that makes a super...
Nov 7, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
In November and December 2010, there was a bumper amount of snow that fell. As a result it suddenly felt Christmasy very early! In the hope of a white festive period, I thought I would update this blog post from November 2010. It’s perfectly possible to make...
Oct 27, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
Many people know about environmental art. Andy Goldsworthy made the concept public and popular from the Eighties onwards. More recently land artists such as Richard Shilling and James Brunt provide child-friendly inspiration through their inspirational art work. Some...
Oct 25, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
Some children find explosions a source of fascination or interest. Not least, the story of Guy Fawkes always held appeal for me. The whole idea of attempting to blow up the Houses of Parliament I found thought-provoking as a child. Many anarchists argue that he was...
Aug 15, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces
Whilst visiting Cold Spring School in New Haven, I spotted a rather fetching item in the outdoor space – a rain chain. The purpose of a rain chain is to allow water to run off a length of guttering and to trickle into a specific place below but to do so in a...
Jul 12, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Social Subjects Outdoors
Imagine an artwork that you can not only look at, but walk over, cycle round, stand on top of, admire from above, below and all sides. I’m standing on The Lady’s forehead, looking down her nose… One that can be trodden down, gets muddy, smells,...
Apr 21, 2020 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
I’m fortunate enough to live in a wee town where there are a number of different walks I can do from my house. Most of the time, I’ll confess, I’m busy playing Wizards Unite. Today, being bored of this game, I thought I’d go in search of gold....
