Some simple activities you can do outside.
So here we are guys and gals, it's almost here. The new year beckons and teachers are trying to reset their collective body clocks, shake of the cobwebs and fire up the work laptops. You might be starting a new year, class, age group, school or role but what remains the same is getting the children back in the right mindset, enthused and engaged in the excitement and challenges ahead.
The weather is usually reasonable in early September and hopefully your pupils will be all still full of having spent the Summer, damming rivers, climbing trees, digging for treasure and sword fighting with sticks (even if it was only on MineCraft!)
Here are 5 ways you might take children outside to find out a little more about them and what they can do, as always not trying to be clever. Find your limits if you aren't a regular goer outside, but what children do and how they behave when you take away the walls will tell you a lot about them.
1. Playlets
Give them some sticks, leaves, litter, stones and stumps (perhaps a few puppets if you are inclined) and give them a scene or story title to improvise. writingexercises.co.uk/story-t... It's fun and can be challenging.
Getting children to collaborate. Tell them they can include any props they can find.
2. Read stories and poems
Just take it out of the classroom, perhaps most common thing done outside.
Reading poems about nature under trees and sitting on a tree stump can help generate powerful language. Obvious really. Write a poem, line or verse in the soil perhaps - will it be there tomorrow?
Hang them on the fence or over the wall, passers by might read them.
The weather is usually reasonable in early September and hopefully your pupils will be all still full of having spent the Summer, damming rivers, climbing trees, digging for treasure and sword fighting with sticks (even if it was only on MineCraft!)
Here are 5 ways you might take children outside to find out a little more about them and what they can do, as always not trying to be clever. Find your limits if you aren't a regular goer outside, but what children do and how they behave when you take away the walls will tell you a lot about them.
1. Playlets
Give them some sticks, leaves, litter, stones and stumps (perhaps a few puppets if you are inclined) and give them a scene or story title to improvise. writingexercises.co.uk/story-t... It's fun and can be challenging.
Getting children to collaborate. Tell them they can include any props they can find.
2. Read stories and poems
Just take it out of the classroom, perhaps most common thing done outside.
Reading poems about nature under trees and sitting on a tree stump can help generate powerful language. Obvious really. Write a poem, line or verse in the soil perhaps - will it be there tomorrow?
Hang them on the fence or over the wall, passers by might read them.
3. Alphabets
A great one for EYFS/KS1 especially, but I've found that KS2 enjoy the challenge too. Make the alphabet from what they can find. Size doesn't matter but creative thought does.
Take photographs and print a fabulous natural alphabet for the classroom.
It looks good and it is theirs.
A great one for EYFS/KS1 especially, but I've found that KS2 enjoy the challenge too. Make the alphabet from what they can find. Size doesn't matter but creative thought does.
Take photographs and print a fabulous natural alphabet for the classroom.
It looks good and it is theirs.
4. Place Value and Numbers
Draw boxes on the playground and use as PV grids.
Use any small manipulatives, shells, stones, beads etc to fill the boxes, making numbers.
Children can see the quantity in the box and how it has a position, then you can add another above or below and create moving calculations.
Children will have that physical connection and see how the number combine and begin to deal with the principles of exchange when there is more than 10(0) - now what?
5. Go and plant something
On the first day.
Go and plant something.
Suggestions could be Garlic, Lamb's Lettuce or if you want a year's project, Delphiniums will flower in Summer.
What a lovely way to close the year, with the flowers planted on Day 1.
Dependent on your green fingeredness!
The masses of learning potential from growing flowers, fruit and veg is enormous.
Draw boxes on the playground and use as PV grids.
Use any small manipulatives, shells, stones, beads etc to fill the boxes, making numbers.
Children can see the quantity in the box and how it has a position, then you can add another above or below and create moving calculations.
Children will have that physical connection and see how the number combine and begin to deal with the principles of exchange when there is more than 10(0) - now what?
5. Go and plant something
On the first day.
Go and plant something.
Suggestions could be Garlic, Lamb's Lettuce or if you want a year's project, Delphiniums will flower in Summer.
What a lovely way to close the year, with the flowers planted on Day 1.
Dependent on your green fingeredness!
The masses of learning potential from growing flowers, fruit and veg is enormous.
But you knew that!
Comment more ideas you have for 'Starting Outside'.
Comment more ideas you have for 'Starting Outside'.
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