Wooden Cable Drums – Developing Physical and Literacy Skills Outside
One repurposed resource which withstands a lot of wear and tear is the cable reel or drum that is used to store electrical wires. They are very flexible pieces of outdoor “furniture” which are worth seeking out in your local area. With sanding and...10 Outdoor Ways to Celebrate World Book Day
Books are brilliant. They create worlds within our heads – places of power and possibilities. They feed our imagination and allow us to think “What if…?” As my friend, Dominic the Storyteller once told me, “Pictures tell a 1000 words, but...Story Washing Lines Outside
Back in 2008 my first introduction to a Swedish outdoor “Rain or Shine” nursery was Skogsnattarna I Ur och Skur. At the first gathering session, I met Anna, one of the teachers, who used a story line outside. This was part of the routine in...The Snowdrop Story
One of the best ways to learn about nature is to hear and share stories about different plants, animals and happenings. Three years ago, this story was told to me by Ginger Franklin, a former education officer at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Here in NE...Love Outdoors! An Outdoor Literacy Activity
Valentine’s Day provides ample opportunities to get outside. This blog post shares some literacy-based ideas for middle and upper primary school-aged children that I did with workshop participants one February in-set day. The first task was to make some green...A Red Rose Hunt for Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching and Burn’s night recently passed, many teachers rather cleverly merge the two by choosing Robert Burn’s poem, A Red Red Rose as a focus for a lesson. Rabbie Burns, like many poets and writers took inspiration...25+ Outdoor Literacy Books, Packs, Videos and Downloads
Often I am asked about resources for outdoor literacy. Thus it seemed to make good sense to put these into a blog post for anyone to access. It would be helpful, if you know of others, to get in touch so that the list is kept up-to-date. Please note – this blog...A Flock of Words
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...Snow stencils…and blood!
Scotland continues to have lots of snow and below freezing temperatures. The temptation to drop work and play all day outside is immense. Today, here’s what happened during my lunch break… First I made some stencils, using scrap pieces of cardboard. But...10+ ideas for mark making in the snow
As soon as snow and freezing temperatures are forecast, gather together resources and be prepared for some wonderful spontaneous mark making moments. Think big, think miniature, think imagination and sheer creative manipulative play! The intention of the suggestions...Metasaga
Metasaga is a beautiful framework for interpreting and revisiting a familiar local environment for children and adults of all ages. It was developed by Kate Coutts in the early Noughties. Basically the approach aims to promote discussion and create links and...Holly
In 2005 I planted a holly tree in front of my house. It has grown slowly but steadily and since 2014 has consistently produced berries being a female tree. This does surprise me because there are no holly trees that I can see nearby. My understanding is that the...The Fibonacci Sequence and Nature
Happy Fibonacci Day (November 23rd – 11 23) Fibonacci lived from 1180-1250. He was the son of an Italian merchant. He developed a passion for numbers and discovered the following sequence that can be observed in leaf arrangements, flower segments, pine cones,...10+ suggestions about using puppets 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...Wooden Spoons Project
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...Leaf loving literacy activities
This blog post is about an outdoor literacy workshop I facilitated many, many years ago. Below is a summary of the activities undertaken. What I love is that over a decade later the suggestions remain valid and interesting. As it’s autumn, the focus is literacy...National Poetry Day – 10 Ideas for Exploring and Writing Poems Outside
National Poetry Day is celebrated on the first Thursday in October. It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the power and pleasure of words. It is also an ideal introduction to writing outdoors. Here’s some ideas to get you started: 1) Make it comfortable....A Poetry Walk at The Coombes School
NOTE: This blog post was first published in 2010 and the photos clearly show that laminated sheets have been used. Please have a look at this post for lots of alternatives to laminating paper. It really isn’t necessary. I love simple ideas that one teacher can...9 considerations when choosing a children’s book about nature or being outside
As educators, our work involves making explicit links between a story and the children’s outdoor spaces and lived experiences. These days there are lots of books that help children enjoy being outside and celebrate nature, natural events and adventures. I also...
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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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