Outdoor Learning
I love teaching the younger children new games to play!
It's great to experience different play zones. My favourite is the mud kitchen!
OPAL
At St Thomas More, we have adopted the OPAL Primary Programme (Outside Play and Learning) to promote freedom for children to explore play in their own imaginative ways, using found and gathered resources in the natural outdoor environment during lunch times. Our grounds are fantastic but have been significantly underused during the winter /spring months due to the wet field area. As a result, we have decided to open up a range of Play Zones across the grounds during the winter months as long as children have the correct outdoor wear.
Please ensure that your child has a pair of wellington boots in school, which can be kept here permanently. Suitable coats/ rainsuits are also recommended as the weather changes.
If you have any old wellies you would be willing to donate, we would be grateful for them too.
Mrs Baxter and the Play Team are looking forward to :
- Children accessing more areas of the school grounds during the colder/ wetter months
- Children exploring, building dens, running, hiding, having fun and getting dirty
- Children involved in activities other than those with a sports focus
- Children taking responsibility for themselves, their games, each other, the environment and their resources
If you would like more information on OPAL, please visit their website at http://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
Muddy Puddles
We also follow The Muddy Puddle Approach, a type of outdoor learning that allows the children to be outside whilst still embedding and learning academic, curriculum linked subjects. For example, we could make number ladders from sticks and jump up the ladders counting in 10’s, we are not limited to work in exercise books only!
The Muddy Puddle Teacher ideas are so much fun and make the children feel as if they are playing whilst learning at the same time.
You can find out more and get free resources for home at:
www.themuddypuddleteacher.co.uk
