Friday 29 May 2015

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag...



Is there ever a better way to develop empathy than through seeing hungry birds take the food you have given them.

Children innately love nature and and possess a growing desire to nurture.  
Feeding and watching out for birds builds up our understanding of nature as well as introducing the awe and wonder of our great British seasons.

Bread and Children


No bakery needed.


Does the context of real life get any better than baking your own bread?  Smelling it cook and eating it whilst it’s warm, didn't think so.
Now on to the rant...
A growing number of little people have no idea where food comes from other than the supermarket or the delivery van. We need to rescue our children from this modern lie and quickly.
When children are introduced to the DNA of  food they instantly take an interest in what they eat. As children begin to understand the concept of field to fork, their awareness heightens and they just want to know more, because that's their very nature.
We can't do it all in a day, but today we can start with bread. 
Begin by introducing some wheat and let the little people crush it using a pestle and mortar or between two rocks. Viola, flour!  (Fabulous link with the Little Red Hen story too).
I prefer Damper bread  as it is so easy to make, no yeast needed and the we can cook it outdoors on open fires - delicious. 
Looking at the skills involved in bread making I don't believe  there is one area from the 7 areas  of learning and development which are not covered within the scope of this activity.  
What do you think? Listening, speaking, thinking, following instruction, measuring, pouring, lifting, mixing, kneading, pounding,  blending, rolling, patting, tearing and eventually sharing!  It's also a fine and gross motor skill party.
See, simple bread making has got the lot.
Enjoy.


Win win with nature.

We can all rearrange nature without feeling silly!


Many children simply don't have the confidence, time or ability to paint at an easel. 

Laying out some baskets with natural objects in will entice children to come and have a go.  Before you know it, patterns are being created, works of art are being attempted, confidence is growing and the child is feeling a measure of success and accomplishment.  Lots of boxes ticked!



Playing under the sky is completely underrated and is in danger of becoming a thing of the past.



Kudos for Forest schools is rightly growing as we realise we have become too safe, too 'indoorsy' and too worried about playing outdoors. The reasons I belive for this sad regressive development I will look  into in a later blog, for now let's focus on the benefits of outdoors

What we expect outdoors...

discovery
imaginary play
exploration
natural hapenings
wildlife sightings
science
big spaces
big skies
climbing
walking
crouching
rolling
stretching
building
breathing fresh air
smelling
listening
heightened senses
confidence boosting
FREEDOM

Outdoors affords time, removes barriers and allows the lungs to fill completely. I don't know about you but my best childhood memories were of being outdoors.


Mess or Masterpiece?

"They're not messing up my classroom." 

I think we have all had that groaning on the inside when your tidied, ordered, well thought out room becomes like a Pandora’s box of paint, glue, feathers, and disgruntled children!
Just go outside - simples.
Getting the painting kit outside takes down barriers, especially those brought about by ‘not wanting to make a mess’.  It gives little people freedom to express their creativity in a BIG way as well as giving them plenty of space.
Children make messes, that's their job but in real terms they are actually making masterpieces.  This is how real high order learning happens.  What do you learn from staying in the lines or painting by numbers? Fine motor control is essential of course but keep that for another lesson, let's do messy masterpieces.
When little folk are painting or sculpting with chalk, mud, paint or water etc. their senses and creativity are heightened, watch their faces as their tongue sticks out the side of their mouths demonstrating absolute concentration! You've all seen it.
Just get a load of paint brushes, combs, sticks, feathers or straw and keep those little fingers moving and those creative juices flowing.  Whatever the end result, it will be their own creation, something they can be proud of and  the bonus to you is that your class will not look like the paint goblin had an all-night party in it!
You know it makes sense, oh and if it's raining try some puddle painting with chalks or powder paint!


Not all children can paint, but they are still artists

Every child an Artist.


Not all children can draw or paint but none should be denied the opportunity to shine as an artist.

Attention spans may be short so have lots of stuff to hand.


Simply gather some natural materials and let the children have a burst of creativity - who knows what they will make...

Don't forget to take a photo for a keep sake.