As a teacher or educator, the classroom is your domain. You are in charge. You set the rules and the learning goals. Your children are close at hand, and under a close watch.
Once you leave the classroom, things change. You have less control. Children have more space, literally and metaphorically. So there is a shift in responsibilities. And this can feel frightening.
So why would you consider taking learning outside? And why would you give any thought to what children learn through free play?
Posted in Education, Learning, Outdoor play, play
Tagged breaktime, education, Outdoor classroom day, outdoor learning, outdoor play, recess, risk benefit assessment
Last week I visited a school where the students can build dens freely, any time they want, during breaks between lessons. In case you were wondering, Berwick Fields Primary School in City of Casey, Victoria, Australia is not a Steiner School, or a progressive private institution. It is a state school (and a large one, with over 1,000 students on roll).
Tagged Australia, breaktime, den-building, education, playtime, recess, school grounds, schools
Rethinking Childhood 