With the weather warming up, this past week has been filled with expanding our creative ventures into the outdoors. Creativity is a process that involves the discovery of new ideas. It is fuelled by a conscious or unconscious insight. We must consider pedagogical delivery methods and learning environments that not only engage children in new and exciting discoveries, but also ones that consolidate their knowledge and build upon existing ideas for future success in life.
Outdoor grounds can play a key role in children’s engagement with learning and their motivation to succeed. Creativity based learning in the outdoor classroom is a highly powerful tool; it is not only crucial to a child’s emotional and social development but presents a whole new educational experience too. Children can take part in imaginative and inventive playful learning; they can also learn the importance of taking risks and overcoming challenges and obstacles. All young children share an innate passion to play and explore their surroundings.
The outdoor classroom presents an array of opportunities for children to take part in both independent and collaborative experimental learning. Consider here a creative approach to teaching children about their surrounding environment. In an outdoor setting, children can be at one with nature; they can immerse themselves in a sensory experience. For example, supervised play areas can lend themselves to nature gardens which allow children to discover insects, foliage, varying seasons and changeable temperatures. At a young age a child’s manipulative skills are developing and they will enjoy tactile experiences; wet and dry sand, water, paint and clay. Through exploring the outdoors children can learn about an array of things. The outdoor classroom therefore opens the door to further learning opportunities. Children can fully immerse themselves in the natural environment taking part in a hands-on, engaging experience; they can touch, smell and listen to their surrounding world.
As the weather improves stay tuned for more of our outdoor learning adventures. We hope you have a fantastic weekend. See you all on Monday 🙂
