- May 19th, 2010
Superb outdoor learning in Oslo – professional study visitors are impressed.
- ahammerton
- Comments: none
A 13-strong group of early years and primary staff countered many travel problems to arrive in Oslo ready to experience for themselves the progressive outdoor learning on offer.
A packed first day found us visiting pupils aged 6 calmly going about language and literacy activities and cooperating on the challenge of building a structure during their day of lessons in the local woodland. Blakstad school in a suburb of Oslo plans for a full day in this outdoor classroom for every pupil once a week in every weather all through the year, and the pupils drive the learning with enthusiasm. Visits to two private kindergartens (catering for 2 to 6 year olds) demonstrated the self confidence, independence and enquiring minds developed in the pupils. The children were happily climbing and swinging, cooperating and discussing while cooking sweet breads over the fire or whittling wood with a knife, and then organsied their own backpacks ready to walk back to their beautiful and functional purpose-built nursery building at the end of their day. (see some photos of their grounds and activities on the Norwegian website).
With some ‘naturbarnehager’ or nature kindergartens taking pupils out one day every week, and others taking a group for five consecutive full days once every three weeks, these children demonstrate healthy, happy and resilient outlooks. Social skills and decision making processes are also well honed and the Scottish visitors have been thoroughly motivated and inspired to develop their own ambitious outdoor learning plans. These plans are likely to be implemented, as this is a group of very determined people to overcome the many twists and turns, trials and tribulations of the journey here battling volcanic ash clouds, industrial action and multiple last minute changes of travel plans!
A very warm reception was also had at the education offices in Asker municipality where a comparison of policies, implementation and support through networks was elicited through discussions over a typical Norwegian lunch. Look out for further posts on the blog!
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