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- June 10th, 2011
The Land of Me in Dundee: Building dens in Templeton Woods
- Derek Robertson
- Comments: 3 Comments »Tags: early years, game based learning, games based learning, Land of Me, outdoor learning
Some months ago we began a pilot project in three local authorities using a resource called The Land of Me. At one of the early meetings in Dundee we met Bernadette Donald from Wallacetown Nursery and she talked about how she planned to use this resource to help support teaching and learning in her setting. Bernadette talked about the opportunities that can arise from the context of this resource, particularly in relation to taking the children outdoors. This aspiration to take learning outdoors resonates very loudly with the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. Part of the rationale that can be found in Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning states that:
Outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime. Integrating learning and outdoor experiences, whether through play in the immediate grounds or adventures further afield, provides relevance and depth to the curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors…it signposts ways for teachers, educators and their partners to plan for and use the outdoor environment to provide imaginative learning and teaching which is relevant, lively and motivating.1 all staff at every level of involvement with the education of children and young people have a responsibility to make the most of the outdoor environment to support the delivery of the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence……Well-constructed and well-planned outdoor learning helps develop the skills of enquiry, critical thinking and reflection necessary for our children and young people to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges of life in the 21st century. Outdoor learning connects children and young people with the natural world, with our built heritage and our culture and society, and encourages lifelong involvement and activity in Scotland’s outdoors.
Taking this rationale on board and considering the needs of her learners Berrnadette planned to take the learning away from the digital screen and to use the context of The Land of Me to allow her and her colleagues to take it out in to the woods (Templeton Woods) so that the children could build a den! She also thought this was a perfect opportunity to introduce this environment to many children who live quite close to it but who have never been to visit this forest on their doorstep. Have a look at this montage of photographs that shows what happened on their visit. Click on the picture to view the slideshow:
Bernadette and I managed to get some time to chat about the Land of Me and to find out why she was interested in taking learning outdoors and just what it was about this resource that enabled this to happen. Have a listen to what Bernadette had to say about this.
As a result of our conversation being interrupted by a youngster in her Royal Wedding dress the interview is in two parts: Here is the end of our discussion!
Bernadette points out a number of issues about this resource and her subsequent pedagogy when planning to use it. These include:
- Context of the world and subsequent discussions about it have led to lots of child-centered enquiry and active learning
- Children spending some time at the computer screen but resource acts as springboard for activity away from the screen
- Has encouraged an increased interest in story-telling
- Perfect opportunity to work in partnership with Countryside Rangers to plan the visit to the woods
- Forest setting allowed the children to explore the habitat where real forest creatures live and to have an adventurous day building their very own forest den
- Purposeful way to involve parents in children’s learning
- The game itself also had positive impact on young children who have English as a second language
The experience of taking learning outdoors is seen within CfE as one of the fundamental aspects of teaching and learning that will contribute to the development of the whole person. The aspiration to expose learners to an adventurous approach to learning is also at the core of outdoor pedagogy.
It is also argued that the outdoor environment encourages staff and pupils to see each other in a different light, building positive relationships and improving self-awareness and understanding of others. Building dens in the woods is a great place to start!
Categories Dundee City, Early Years
Great to hear this kind of discussion with a EYP who clearly understands the pedagogical perspectives of her resource. Also her enthusiasm and her links to using the resource as a tool to help children with a second language shine through.
[...] il est aussi à l’origine d’un projet plus éloigné des technologies vidéoludiques : The Land of me in Dundee. Cette nouvelle réalisation semble faire exception, puisque l’objectif est ici d’inviter les [...]
[...] il est aussi à l’origine d’un projet plus éloigné des technologies vidéoludiques : The Land of me in Dundee. Cette nouvelle réalisation semble faire exception, puisque l’objectif est ici d’inviter les [...]