Explain this
Early Years Curriculum: A View from Outdoors
How the publisher describes it:
“Education outdoors – in the school grounds or further afield – is widely recognised as making a valuable contribution to children’s development in all areas of the curriculum, including ‘areas of learning’ at Foundation Stage, and ‘subjects’ at Key Stage 1 and beyond.”
Review by Helen Williams
In brief:
No longer must outdoors be seen as a release from so-called ‘real work’ that takes place indoors, sitting down. And outdoor maths activities need not be restricted to one fine week in the summer term, As Danish educationists maintain: There is no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothes.
“This book is more than maths”
This book is an inspirational description of Kernow Woodland Learning, a woodland learning project in an Education Action Zone in Cornwall based on a similar project - Bridgwater Forest school - and the Danish model of forest schools.
With lovely photographs of engaged and smiling young children all appropriately clad and sat around camp fires (“How many sticks do we need?” “Where’s that smoke going?”), toasting marshmallows (“How long will mine take to warm up?”) building camps and shelters with branches (“Will we all fit in here?”) and exploring ‘base camp’ (“What might live under these leaves?” “Is this the way back? How do you know?”) - it brings thudding home how inappropriate indoor classrooms are for deep and rich learning for these youngest children.
This book is more than maths. It is about how a group of dedicated practitioners produced and managed practical, challenging, active, creative and successful outdoor learning experiences on a weekly basis. The ideas are well researched and steeped in good early years practice and knowledge. This is not a book of ideas where you can ‘lift’ one idea to use in (or out) your classroom, but rather a whole philosophy for supporting young children’s learning using their natural inquisitiveness and zest for life. What a long, long way from the blooming carpet. A must-read.
No longer must outdoors be seen as a release from so-called ‘real work’ that takes place indoors, sitting down. And outdoor maths activities need not be restricted to one fine week in the summer term, As Danish educationists maintain: There is no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothes.
Helen Williams • Educational consultant for early years mathematics
Paperback: 92 pages
Publisher: David Fulton Publishers; 1 edition (25 Nov 2004)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1843123452
ISBN-13: 978-1843123453
Product Dimensions: 29.4 x 20.6 x 0.6 cm
