Full Description
Learning outside the classroom is increasingly seen as beneficial in both early years and primary settings, and it is becoming embedded in the curriculum, but what are the benefits of this approach? What do children learn from being outside the classroom? This book explores why learning beyond the classroom is important for children, and offers practical examples of how to improve outdoor learning experiences for all children. In the face of the increasing restriction of children's outdoor experiences, it will help the reader rise to the challenge of finding creative opportunities for working across the curriculum through outdoor activities. Chapters cover: the theory behind learning outside the classroom; transition from early years to primary practice; what outdoor learning looks like, in different contexts; teaching and learning across the curriculum outdoors; and, how to evaluate the effectiveness of different outdoor activities, and learning outside the classroom as a whole. Each chapter has case studies, thoughts on theory, points for practice and summaries to help readers digest the most important information.Critical thinking and reflective practice are encouraged throughout to support consideration of how outdoor learning relates to the curricula in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Sue Waite is a Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, where she leads the outdoor and experiential learning research network in the Faculty of Education.
Contents
Introduction - Sue Waite Theoretical Perspectives on Learning outside the Classroom - Relationships between Learning and Place - Sue Waite and Nick Pratt PART ONE: EARLY YEARS PRACTICE - REACHING OUT Crawling and Toddling in the Outdoors - Very Young Children's Learning - Valerie Huggins and Karen Wickett Using the Local Community as Part of the Early Years Learning Environment - Karen Wickett and Valerie Huggins A Time of Change: Outdoor Learning and Pedagogies of Transition between Foundation Stage and Year One - Sue Waite, Julie Evans and Sue Rogers PART TWO: LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM ACROSS THE CURRICULUM FOR PRIMARY AGED CHILDREN English and Language outside the Classroom - Howard Cotton Mathematics outside the Classroom - Nick Pratt Science and Technology outside the Classroom - Beth Gompertz, Julia Hincks and Rachael Hincks Knight Understanding Places and Society Through History and Geography outside the Classroom - Orla Kelly and Roger Cutting The Arts outside the Classroom - Jeff Adams, Martin Ashley and Ian Shirley Physical Development, Health and Well-Being: The Role of Physical Education 'outside' - Emma Sime and Liz Taplin PART THREE: OUTSIDE THE BOX Residential Centres: Desirable Difference? - Tony Rea School Gardens and Forest Schools - Rowena Passy and Sue Waite Environmental Education in the National Park: Case Studies on Exmoor - Dave Gurnett, Linda la Velle and Sue Waite Managed Learning Spaces and New Forms of Learning Outside the Classroom - Alan Peacock Making a Difference: Learning on a Grand Scale - Sue Waite Appendix: Some Useful Websites
