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There are plenty of learning and teaching opportunities all year round outdoors. Visit this page regularly and see what new resources have been uploaded.
Forest or Nature Kindergartens
The Early Years Framework states that setting up nature kindergartens are a medium term priority within Scottish education. To help schools and local authorities learn more about this child-centred, effective approach, Creative STAR are producing a series of case studies:
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A Nature Pre-school Walk: Find out how Seattle Nature Pre-School create a daily routine which involves getting out and about in different natural habitats. - Swedish Forest Schools: This case study looks at how the first Swedish Rain or Shine (I Ur och Skur) outdoor nursery began and has grown into a world-wide Forest School and nature kindergarten movement.
- Mulleborg and Skogsknattarna Kindergartens: A case study which focuses on the routines at two very different, but equally inspiring Rain or Shine Nurseries in Sweden.
- Utsikten Primary School: Have a look at the first outdoor primary school in Sweden.
Forest Kindergarten Feasibility Study
If
you are wanting to find out about forest schools or nature
kindergartens then this report will be very useful. It gives advice
about getting started, costs involved and resources required. It
considers the place of such provision in the wider context of outdoor
play in the pre-5 age group. The appendices include valuable
information including what to look for when selecting a natural habitat
for frequent, regular access and a simple self-evaluation tool.
Download the report from the Forest Kindergarten Central Scotland website.
International Outdoor Learning Case Studies
In addition to the outdoor schools and kindergarten case studies, download the following case studies:
Learning and Teaching Scotland Outdoor Learning Website
The LTS outdoor learning website has been substantially upgraded and has lots of information and advice for education staff and partner organisations interested in getting children outside. The Creative STAR team have two research documents listed and contributed other material.
Flourishing LivesThe Centre for Confidence
and Wellbeing have a section in their website called "Flourishing
Lives". There is a specific section about outdoor learning and playing
which provides information and useful tips for getting children
involved in nature based activities, written by Juliet Robertson.
Winter Wonderland
When the snow and cold weather arrives it can be useful to have several activities ready to go which capitalise on this exciting event. The Winter Wonderland Pack contains more than 20 super ideas for learning outside the classroom on snowy days.
Primary Earth Science Outdoors Pack
The Scottish Earth Science Education Forum have produced a free outdoor pack for primary schools. It contains lots of activities that can be undertaken in school grounds or local neighbourhood. It's the result of collaboration between a number of people and organisations and is the most comprehensive pack of its kind to-date.
Outdoor Active Problem Solving
Outdoor centres use team building activities with children all year round. Take your children outside and have them working together on fun, challenging problems. The Creative STAR outdoor active problem solving courses have lots of ideas and activities to help you embed the principles of A Curriculum for Excellence in a planned, progressive format for nursery through to Primary 7. Click here to sample a problem solving session.
I'm a Teacher, Get Me OUTSIDE Here!
This is the emergency exit to outdoor learning! Creative STAR has its own blog, the aim of which is to provide readers with ideas, thoughts and suggestions for learning outdoors and all that goes with this. Click here to visit the Creative STAR blog.
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