The Week Ahead.......we are getting outdoors!
We returned after the Spring break with renewed vigour and energy. The sun has been more present this week, sending a gentle warmth throughout the gardens and outdoor learning spaces. Outdoor play now becomes a key focus, as the weather permits extended time outside.
There is a substantial base of evidence supporting the benefits of taking learning outdoors. The impact of outdoor learning on children’s health and wellbeing, wider achievements, attainment and personal development is recognised by practitioners.
The general benefits from taking learning outdoors are:
- Connections are made experientially with the real world outside the classroom, helping to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in a meaningful context
- Outdoor environments and surroundings act as a rich stimulus for creative thinking and learning. This affords opportunities for challenge, enquiry, critical thinking and reflection
- Children find that not everything outside matches what they see in books. This does not mean that what they have found is ‘wrong’. Instead, it develops awareness of the complexities of the real world and can help develop critical thinking skills
- Children can sometimes behave differently outdoors. Quiet pupils may speak more, others become calmer and more focused when outside, especially in a natural space
- The multi-sensory experience outdoors helps children to retain knowledge more effectively.
- There are opportunities for pupils to learn with their whole bodies on a large scale
- Learning in a less structured environment can provide a different learning experience from that of the classroom
- Being outdoors can be a more relaxing learning experience for many learners
Research provides evidence that children who experience learning spaces that are naturally diverse are more physically active, more aware of nutrition, exhibit better social skills and are more creative. Pro-environmental behaviour is heightened in children and adults who experience greater time outdoors, and complex environmental issues are more easily understood with real-life interaction with nature as opposed to learning from pictures or books. Being ‘nature smart’ or ‘naturalist’ is recognised as an intelligence (Howard Gardner, multiple intelligence theory) and includes abilities such as noticing subtle differences and details about objects, having the capacity to use multiple senses, being able to identify and distinguish one species from another, and being aware of how to distinguish the diversity of organisms in their ecological niche.
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www.playscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/outdoorlearningsupport2tcm4-675958.pdf)
Play experiences in the outdoor learning space provides plentiful opportunity to use children’s experiences and extend them to build up ideas, concepts and skills. They can try things out, solve problems, be creative, take risks, and use trial and error to find things out. Making dens and dressing up are an integral part of children’s play; role play areas allow children to take on and rehearse new and familiar roles. Permission to get messy and dirty is implied; it is impossible to ‘cook’ outdoors without getting involved. Every area of defined learning can be promoted through use of the outdoor space from fine and gross motor skills to mathematical concepts, making relationships and developing self-confidence and self-esteem; from creating a narrative of an experience to negotiating roles within a play scenario, the limits for learning are endless.
When contemplating what to do on an evening or weekend with your child, consider going to a park or green space. Listen to sound of the birds around you, the gentle whisper of the breeze as it wraps around the trees. Notice the different shapes, sizes and textures of the foliage. Count and identify the number of bugs that make their home in and around the natural spaces. Observe the flowers, inhale their delicate fragrance. Where possible, talk about the properties of plants and their uses in our lives. Watch the activities of the other people; dancing, playing games, doing sports, chatting, exploring, sitting and simply being present. Consider the importance of the space; what would life be if it were gone? Take time to appreciate that everyone who lives on the earth has a responsibility to care for it, to protect it for future generations to enjoy. See it as a gift. Moreover, share an experience with your child that promotes wellbeing, health and a loving bond between you.
Talking of love……..
It is always so busy in early years. March was such a crazy month which resulted in a ‘to do’ list which is complex and challenging, to say the least. At such busy times my door closes, and my blinds are drawn. I become a hermit for periods throughout the day, affording me uninterrupted opportunity to focus. My playlist changes to music for concentration and I strive for achievement of one task on the list. As a break from being all too serious, the team will often surprise me with acts of loveliness. Yesterday, I was shown something that warmed my heart and brought a broad smile to my all too serious face. Sofia (EY4 Monkey class) had been creating an image that she felt represented love. ‘Why does love look like this?’ her teacher asked. ‘Because love is messy, and love is everywhere’ Sofia explained. I believe that Sofia has a very wise head on her young shoulders, and we, perhaps, have a future philosopher in our midst.
Classroom News for week beginning Monday 16th April 2018
EY1 – Erica Ni writes about the theme The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Next week we will keep learning about book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Children will go outside in groups to collect leaves, branches, grass, and sand to make a small world for the caterpillars. We will review simple concepts such as colours, small/large, long/short during children’s play. We will talk about cocoon and use recycle material to make cocoon for the caterpillars. Children will categorise food flashcards according to the days of the week in the story.
We are reading:
《很饿的毛毛虫》、《我的情绪小怪兽》、The Very Hungry Caterpillar
We are singing:
《咏鹅》、《小燕子》、Hello,Hello,How are you?
A note from the EY1 team:
Please make sure your child wear a full set proper uniform to the setting every day. Thanks for your cooperation.
EY2 – Vivian He writes about the theme A Squash and a Squeeze
This week children will use different materials to design a house. They will work like little architects. They will talk with their friends about their ideas and after they have finished house making, they will share the ideas with the class. In the outdoor area, the children will water plants and play hopscotch as the weather is getting warmer. We will also begin talking about measuring objects indoors as well as outdoors such as tables and plants as well as things that the children are interested in.
We are reading:
A Squash and a Squeeze
That’s not my (train) (series)
跟着直线走
会打瞌睡的房子
各种各样的建筑
We are singing:
Down in the Jungle Where Nobody Goes.
Old McDonald had a Farm
Humpty Dumpty
粉刷匠
大房子
王老先生有块地
A note from the EY2 team:
Please bring children’s summer hat for outside play.
EY3 – Nicole writes about the theme Adventures under the Sea
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” John Lubbock
This week the children will be completing writing tasks in English. Please send photographs to your child’s teacher if you go on any trips or participate in any activities over the weekend. The children will also be learning about estimating by looking at creatures in the sea and then counting to check. At the end of the week the children will be learning about the environmental issues faced by our oceans for Earth Day. We will learn about the pollution to the seas and beaches and participate in cleaning up the setting.
We are reading:
《我们是一家》
Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson
We are singing:
《登鹳雀楼》
5 Cranky Crabs
Special date: April 20
th is Earth Day
EY4 – Emily Gu writes about the theme Imagine That
Children love the story ‘Not a Box’, which inspired them with so many ideas! Children also started to plan their own ‘Not a Box’ on a planning sheet and also create their own not a box. Children will give each other their positive comments and suggestion on other’s work well. While we read an open-ended story, children can continue with their own version by using their imagination.
We are reading:
Not A Box
不是箱子
Not a stick
不是棍子
温妮女巫系列
We are singing:
多变的毛线
Phonics songs
A note from EY4 team:
Normal temperature water will be provided to children as the weather is getting warm.
Music and Movement – PeiHua and Sarah write about life in the music space
EY 1 – So many interesting minibeasts live in the garden! This week we will creep, crawl, wiggle and fly to the music as we discover caterpillars, butterflies, and bumblebees. We’ll buzz and dance around the flowers, welcome the sun and rain with weather songs, and maybe even hear a rainbow!
EY 2 – Cluck! Cluck! Cluck! The mother hen is back and laying eggshakers all over the music room. The children will hatch eggs, move like hens, chicks and roosters to music, and even learn to do the Chicken Dance! Playing sticks quiet and loud to fiddle music and singing folk songs from the farm will also be highlights.
EY 3 – The children are very curious about the many different animals that live under the sea. This week we will continue learning 在海里 and meet some musical whales to play over and under the water. We’ll sing the new song 节约用水in celebration of Earth Day. The musical storybook Baby Beluga by Raffi will also be introduced this week.
EY 4 – “We’ve got the whole world in our hands…” We’ve only got one Earth and we need to look after it! This Earth Day themed class we will explore mountains and learn how we can protect them. We will learn the exciting new bilingual song If I Were A Tree / 如果我是棵树and we’ll continue learning康定情歌, adding an English verse, and extend
The Whole World in Our Hands with new verses using the children’s ideas.
We are reading:
EY 3 – Baby Beluga
We are singing:
EY 1 -春雨沙沙沙, Hello Mr. Sun, Fly Fly the Butterfly
EY 2 -老母鸡, 母鸡孵蛋, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, 10 Fluffy Chicks
EY 3 -在海里, 节约用水, Children Children Build Me a Boat, Baby Beluga
EY 4 康定情歌, The Whole World in Our Hands, If I Were A Tree/如果我是棵树
Special notes:
Spring is here and we are expanding the Music Kitchen. Pots, pans, spoons, plastic bottles, biscuit tins, chopsticks, ladles, cups… We would love to have those odd pieces from the back of your cupboard for our children to make joyful noises with! Please drop your items in the Music Kitchen box in Reception.
Should you have any questions please e-mail
peihua.wang@wellingtoncollege.cn or
