Mar 19, 2013 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, RME Outdoors
“Be careful what you wish for because it may come true” (Proverb) Celtic folklore exists about the use of wishing rods which are found tied to beech trees. The beech tree is also known as the tree of wishes. Fallen beech branches are said to be invitations...
Apr 8, 2012 | Literacy Outdoors, RME Outdoors
I have decided to recognise Earth Day on 22nd April with a book and relevant activity. For practitioners who struggle for ideas and inspiration for outdoor play activities I often suggest choosing a favourite book, reading it with children and brainstorming ideas with...
Mar 17, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Health & Wellbeing, RME Outdoors
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about a class who explored mazes outside. We continued the investigations and moved on to looking at labyrinths. These are a bit different to mazes. A maze has an element of problem-solving and decision making as usually one has to...
Feb 29, 2012 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Play Resources, RME Outdoors
Children love mazes. Whenever I undertook consultations with children about what they like to do, the idea of having a maze in the school grounds really appealed to them. One school I worked with ran a competition for a maze mural, and the children created this...
Feb 4, 2012 | Maths Outdoors, RME Outdoors
Now that the Chinese New Year has arrived, 2012 is officially the Year of the Dragon. This is extremely exciting and for an interesting maths challenge, one has to try making a fractal dragon. First all all your need a flat open space. My back garden was fine. And you...
Apr 17, 2011 | Art & Music Outdoors, RME Outdoors
For many years, my step-grandmother, and then my step-father, would always give myself and my sisters a pace egg as part of an Easter gift. These are dyed eggs which are a local tradition in different parts of NW England that traditionally uses a Celandine flowers...
Aug 25, 2010 | Health & Wellbeing, RME Outdoors
Philosophical enquiry skills can be developed with children at any age and stage. It involves exploring beliefs, values, practices and traditions through critical thinking, reflection and analysis. When I was visiting The Coombes School, Sue Humphries led a silent...
Aug 5, 2010 | RME Outdoors, Social Subjects Outdoors
When I visited The Coombs CE Primary School for a World Outside the Classroom conference, the morning and afternoon activities began with a symbolic releasing of doves. Like every other event, this was regarded as an excellent learning opportunity for the...
Jul 28, 2010 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, RME Outdoors
Many years ago, during a school grounds conference, the Coombes School had created this temporary labyrinth in their school grounds. It’s a substantial affair – big enough for a class to use. The construction of the labyrinth is remarkably simple. The turf...
