Jan 18, 2014 | Whole School
Today’s blog post is a little bit of light thinking around what makes an outdoor teacher: Is it your qualifications? Is it your attitude? Is it the length and type of your beard? Read on and find out, by taking this quick quiz: 1. What does “outdoor...
Oct 23, 2013 | Whole School
This week, Tim Gill of Rethinking Childhood wrote an interesting piece, Is Technology the Enemy of an Outdoor Childhood? It is well worth reading and responding to. In many ways, I feel the debate about digital technology in the context of outdoors is done and...
Apr 1, 2013 | Personal & Holidays, Whole School
Up and down the country, outdoorsy people have a bit of tarp tucked away or perhaps proudly displayed somewhere. Whilst it does not carry the same level of status as a car, what type of tarp you have and your opinions about tarp can reveal a lot. Oh yes! Take this...
Mar 2, 2013 | Community Involvement, Whole School
I often get asked about how parents will view learning outdoors There is no short answer to this query as there are many possibilities and options. Operation Eco Allochy At Inverallochy School, parents are kept fully informed about the playground and other outdoor...
Feb 16, 2013 | Whole School
This post is based upon a presentation given by Julie Wilson, National Development Officer Outdoor Learning at Education Scotland that was given to Dalkeith High School and associated primary schools on a Valentine’s Day In-set. Definitely a day to fall in love...
Jan 12, 2013 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
When I was four years old and my sister was five, we intentionally did something that was Very Naughty. Our parents were having a party one evening. We had been put to bed and could not sleep for the excitement of hearing all the voices downstairs. We had been told...
Aug 4, 2012 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening, Whole School
When I wrote this post back in 2012 it was based on a visit to the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle. This garden was established in 2005 as an entertaining yet educational opportunity for the public to learn more about herbs and plants which have potentially dire, and...
Apr 22, 2012 | Whole School
Many years ago I read an interesting book called “Influencer: the Power to Change Anything” by Kerry Patterson et al. It contained example after example of seemingly impossible situations where change had happened. For instance, one case study was about a...
Dec 29, 2011 | Whole School
At this time of year, I think I tend to be quite reflective about where I’ve come from and what the future may hold. This year is particularly poignant as five years ago, I stopped working as a head teacher, with little idea about my future. Since then...
Oct 26, 2011 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
Whilst in the Czech Republic in October 2008 I had the opportunity to visit three nurseries which had undertaken very different approaches to getting children outside and ensuring frequent regular contact with nature. This is the first of three blog posts about my...
Aug 18, 2011 | Nature Play & Learning, Whole School
At the end of last term I had the privilege of delivering an in-set day in Dumfries and Galloway that was hosted by St Mungo Primary School. I had been looking forward to the day, not least because half of the activities were undertaken in their local woodland....
Jun 4, 2011 | Whole School
Way, way back in the last decade and previous century, I used to get irritated by interruptions to the classroom. I felt most were a waste of valuable learning and teaching time. To quote Neil Fiore: “Time is a precious commodity. It’s a non-renewable...
Dec 7, 2010 | Whole School
The School of Education at Aberdeen University had an interesting new programme for its teacher students back in 2010. Part of their first year includes a community placement. When word got out about this, many outdoor and environmental organisations in the North East...
Oct 2, 2010 | Early Years Outdoors, Health & Wellbeing, Nature Play & Learning, Science Outdoors, Whole School
The wet and windy weather we’ve been having in NE Scotland does have its advantages at this time of year. Suddenly fungi can be found everywhere! Our local woodlands are full of mushrooms and toadstools that add to the seasonal beauty and wonder of a visit. If...
Jun 27, 2010 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
When I work with schools and early years settings I discuss the concept of zoning the outdoor area. This is not an original idea. Landscape architects who develop play spaces use zones to turn a “space” into a “place”. Each zone or area is managed for different play...
May 21, 2010 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
“There is always a certain risk to being alive and if you are more alive there is more risk.”Ibsen Edinburgh is a mysterious city. Within its centre is a myriad of steps, alleyways and hidden streets. Just off the Royal Mile, invisible to non-nursery...
May 1, 2010 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
In April 2010, the Government published the document, Curriculum for Excellence Through Outdoor Learning. A copy went to every school and Early Learning and Childcare setting in Scotland. Over a decade on, and it remains fit for purpose and schools and ELC settings...
Mar 11, 2010 | Art & Music Outdoors, Community Involvement, Whole School
In 2008 I had the privilege of undertaking a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship. This enabled me to spend six weeks in North America, Sweden and the Czech Republic. It was a once-in-a-life time opportunity. An old university friend who lives in Seattle advised me...
Feb 6, 2010 | Literacy Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Social Subjects Outdoors, Whole School
If your class is studying Scandinavian countries or undertaking a Viking project, then a wee focus on trolls can be a lot of fun. Trolls are part of Scandinavian folklore and any child who has read the films or read the Harry Potter books knows a little about trolls....
Sep 4, 2009 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
With Curriculum for Excellence now in place, children in Primary 1 are expected to follow a more traditional nursery curriculum. One of the greatest changes therefore is considering how outdoor play can be integrated into a Primary 1 day. At the very least time...
