Jul 1, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
I receive a lot of queries about outdoor nurseries, out-of-school clubs, forest kindergartens and nature kindergartens in Scotland. This post lists the ones I am aware of, but please, if you know of others, then please do get in touch and tell me more. One...
Mar 1, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Whole School
Several years ago, I spent a day at Dunblane Nature Kindergarten. It was an opportunity to share thinking and enjoy celebrating the journey of this childcare setting that values nature pedagogy and all that this encompasses. This blog post captures a process of change...
Oct 3, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Whole School
Today, the Early Learning and Childcare Directorate published Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces as part of their Out to Play series. This is a hefty document that is not designed to be read from cover-to-cover but to dip into as needed. In order to save practitioners...
Sep 3, 2023 | Nature Play & Learning
Around my home town, there are some horse chestnut trees which always have a good supply of conkers. They are a much sought after fruit with children looking for and commenting on the availability of the conkers. I now plot some of my walks to pass these trees at this...
Apr 15, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
At this time of year, wildflowers are beginning to bloom, one of the best of which has to be the dandelion. It is a sure sign that the soil is warming up and spring has arrived. So enjoy some playful explorations for all ages. 1. Enabling children to pick dandelions...
Apr 5, 2023 | Gardening, Nature Play & Learning
This blog post is about Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) sometimes called Jack-by-the-hedge. You can also forage for Wild Garlic ((Allium ursinum)) which is also found in many woodlands in spring time. More information and Wild Garlic recipes can be found on the...
Mar 30, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
At the International Skogsmulle Symposium in Japan there was an afternoon of playing games and undertaking practical activities such as making things with bamboo. This very simple memory game was featured and this is how it is played… Firstly you prepare your...
Mar 29, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening, Health & Wellbeing, Nature Play & Learning, Technologies
The one activity my son remembers from his nursery days was making nettle soup. He recalls the excitement of wearing tough gloves and not believing he wouldn’t be stung in the mouth when he ate the soup. Spring is the time of year for making nettle soup. Young...
Mar 7, 2023 | Gardening, Nature Play & Learning, RME Outdoors
The daffodils are beginning to make an appearance in North-East Scotland. This beautiful plant is a welcome sign of spring’s arrival and a great opportunity to celebrate its old and new traditions and folklore. Here are some ways to enjoy and explore the beauty...
Feb 5, 2023 | Gardening, Nature Play & Learning, RME Outdoors, Whole School
When the crocus appears, it’s a positive indication that spring is on its way. Snowdrop is the lead flower in letting us know that winter’s days are numbered. But crocus is the follower that affirms the decision of snowdrop to rear its head above the snow....
Feb 2, 2023 | Literacy Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
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...
Jan 6, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
August is the time for collecting feathers in NE Scotland. All the gulls have been shedding their feathers, left, right and centre on the playing fields and parks. When you and your class go collecting, be sure to store some away for examining and using at other...
Jan 5, 2023 | Nature Play & Learning, Science Outdoors
When learning about nature and wildlife, experiential outdoor sessions need to happen. We need children to play and to practice key skills so that observing and understanding birds is a key focus of our time. Over the decades , a number of outdoor educators such as...
Jan 4, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening, Nature Play & Learning
The RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch is running again from 6th January until 20th February 2023. You can register to participate and download many free resources and advice about making this wonderful Citizen Science project a brilliant, direct learning experience...
Dec 30, 2022 | Nature Play & Learning, RME Outdoors
At this time of year, I look forward to the New Year and think about the future and what it brings. The tradition of making resolutions remains strong although apparently we are not very good at keeping a resolution! For some children working out the different between...
Dec 22, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
If you have a real Christmas tree, then you are in luck. There are lots of possibilities for it to have an extended life after the festive period. Here’s some ideas to help you out: 1. Plant your tree outside Firstly if your tree has roots, then plant it out....
Dec 16, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
When snow arrives it is time to celebrate this unique opportunity for outdoor play and learning. This is a guest post from Frode Svane. He is both an architect and a pedagog, working with projects for parks, public places, schoolyards and kindergardens in Norway. He...
Dec 15, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Literacy Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
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...
Dec 13, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Literacy Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
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...
Dec 11, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Science Outdoors
Snow is precious. Be prepared in advance to make the most of the soft fluffy stuff as soon as it arrives. The post draws together various posts and ideas I’ve blogged about over the years to save you searching. Just to wet your appetite for snow, here are some...
