In Ace TV Episode 5 we walked you around our outdoor area! Check it out!
We're really lucky with our outdoor area - we've been able to adopt lots of unused space to give the children lots of new experiences! However, just like every setting, money is always tight so we've put lots of time into finding cheap but effective ideas!
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Perfect for outdoors because the mess will just wash away!
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Here's a few photos of our outdoor area!
#Autumnselfie!
Inspired by education advisor Shonette Bason-Wood we're asking the children to take an #autumnselfie in order to encourage them to explore their local environment! Perhaps you would like to join in?!
Spider web collecting!
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One damp, Autumnal day we came to school to find the patio covered with dew-drenched spider webs! We watched a video about how spiders spin their webs and then collected some using black sugar paper. We gently placed the paper behind the web and swiftly pulled it forward, capturing the wet web. Then we sprinkled them with glitter. The results were amazing. We talked to the children about not destroying every web they see and why spiders need them. The activity encouraged the children to be observant and respectful of nature and they didn't take any more than would have been damaged by our normal play (they covered the playhouse, railings, fence etc.) and far fewer than if we had been gardening!
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The investigation station
Outside we were inspired, by a photo that we had seen on another site, to create an investigation station. Next to the whiteboard we use an old sand tray and fill it with resources that the children can use to investigate a question. The children have measured with different measuring devices (tape measures, rulers, sand timers, balance scales, metre sticks, trundle wheel etc.) and also investigated what things are magnetic.
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Number stones
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Mrs Curtis made these brilliant number stones. The children love using them - the tactile nature of them makes them very attractive to them! So far they've been eggs for dinosaurs but who knows what's next?!
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Tuff love!
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Outside we created a number recognition table. With adult support it also becomes a doubling activity as the children find pairs and add them together! The wooden numbers were really cheap from Amazon!
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Here's a tough spot we made to encourage some of our children to explore different textures. These children love small world play - especially cars and wanted to create something to allow them to explore textures.
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After our potatoes were ready the children enjoyed pulling them up and searching through the compost to find them all! We tipped the soil into the tuff spot to make it easier for them to search and they loved finding roots, weeds, bugs...
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Adding outdoors
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Here is our very popular adding machine. The children have really enjoyed using stones and counting them as they place them into the two tubes. Then then count the answer in the bucket and write the number sentence on the board with chalk!
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