Category Archives: Outdoor Learning

Literacy, Outdoor Learning, Trips and Outings

Outdoor Sensory Area

January 31, 2022 User deactivated Leave a comment

We have decided to create a sensory area in our garden. We made a list of all natural resources that we could collect when on our local walk. We all helped to collect stones, sticks, leaves and pinecones.
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“I found a big stone, let’s put it in the bag.”

Once back from our walk we made labels so that we could sort the loose parts into a section each.

The children then had fun working together to match and sort.

“We’re almost finished.”

”We need to collect more stones.”

Our sensory area is beginning to take shape and we have lots of great ideas for different natural resources we could collect to add to it.

Outdoor Learning

Big Garden Birdwatch

January 28, 2022 Mrs Miles Leave a comment

This morning the boys and girls have taken part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2022. We started by trying to invite the birds in to the garden. Helen and the children discussed what birds might use to create their nests and filled the whisks with a variety of these items and also some seeds.

We looked at pictures of the most common garden birds and learned the names of them and also some of their features. Then we created a chart to record which birds we saw and how many of each type.

“I like robins.”
“I see blackbirds in my granny’s garden.”

We used the binoculars to look for birds and then marked which ones we saw on the chart.

“I saw two and two blackbirds, that makes four!”

The children even drew pictures of their favourite birds. Look at this lovely starling!

The Big Garden Birdwatch runs from the 28-30th January, you can find more details on the RSPB website. Why not take part and share your findings with us on Twitter. Have a nice weekend 🦜

Outdoor Learning

We’re going on a number hunt!!

January 19, 2022 Ms Partridge Leave a comment

We’re going on a number hunt, we’re going to find a big one!

Today the children had so much fun going on a number hunt in our local area. We found lots of numbers in some interesting places!

We even took little Blue along to help us on our hunt…

We put our thinking caps on and thought how could we make our own numbers? We found some big sticks, and some little sticks and made some numbers in the gloopy mud! It was very sticky. We couldn’t go under it… we couldn’t go over it… we had to go through it!!!

“it’s very very squelchy”

”I’m going to write 5 because that’s my number”

“look, it’s a 0 and a 1!”

Well done boys and girls, you were all super detectives on our number hunt!!

I wonder where else we could find some more interesting numbers? Or maybe you could try going on a letter or a shape hunt! Have fun everyone 🤩!!

Outdoor Learning

Number Games in the Garden!

January 18, 2022 Mrs Barnes Leave a comment

Today in the garden the children were playing games using chalk, hoops and bean bags! The children helped to number a hop scotch grid using chalk and then had great fun playing on it.
“I jumped on 2 and 3!” “I can hop and jump to 10!”

The children were trying to balance bean bags on their heads whilst moving around the garden.

“I can run fast with mine!” “I’m walking slow with mine!”

The children thought it would be fun to try hop scotch with the bean bags on their heads. They demonstrated really good balance whilst hopping and jumping!

The children thought up a good game to play with the bean bags and hoops! They numbered inside the hoops with chalk and earned points for throwing the bean bags into the hoops! When it got too easy they moved further away from the hoops!

What a great game! We had really good fun in the garden today!

Outdoor Learning

Fun in the snow

January 7, 2022 User deactivated Leave a comment

This morning in the garden the children had great fun playing in the snow. We decided to make a snowman. Working together, we rolled the snow into two balls. One for the head and one for the body. When they were big enough, we popped the head onto the body and talked about how we could decorate him. We found twigs for arms, stones for eyes and a bottle top for a nose ( we couldn’t find a carrot) We finished his look with a hat and scarf.

We enjoyed throwing snowballs at Lauren and Jo!

“I got you Lauren”

We practiced our throwing at a target aiming for the bulls eye.

We are so lucky to have a hill right beside Cart Mill so off we went for some sledging. It was great fun whizzing down the hill on our ’sledge’. The children demonstrated great patience waiting for their turn.

No fun in the snow would be complete without our very own snow angels.

We have had the best day playing in the snow.

Outdoor Learning

We are gardeners!

January 6, 2022 User deactivated Leave a comment

Today in our garden a group of children have been super busy taking care of our lovely planting area. Firstly we had to weed our planters using gardening tools then we used our gross motor skills for digging, carrying and lifting. As we were digging we came across some insects that live in the soil and mud, so we made sure that we were extra careful.

After we weeded our planter we went into the greenhouse to have a look at what we could plant, the children decided they would like to sow beetroot seeds. We had a chat about when is best to grow certain ones and the affects the different seasons and weather have on the plants and all the different fruits, vegetables and flowers.

The children will be a big part of taking responsibility and care of our vegetables and flowers. We had a chat with the children about being patient when waiting for our vegetables and flowers to grow and that we will need to keep good care of them by watering regularly for them to flourish.

Outdoor Learning

Lots of fun in the garden!

December 21, 2021 Mrs Barnes Leave a comment

Today the children had great fun in the garden. They set up the guttering on our new stands and loved rolling balls of different sizes down the slopes. The aim was to catch the balls in the basket at the bottom!

The children showed great problem solving skills whilst developing their gross motor skills stretching, reaching and chasing the balls. They were very excited when the balls landed in the basket.

Before home time the children enjoyed having fun out on the bikes. They loved zooming around the garden and were very excited that it was getting dark! This further develops their gross motor skills, balance and coordination.

Lots of fun and fresh air today and the children showed great teamwork and amazing turn taking in the garden!

Outdoor Learning

Exploring and developing our garden!

December 9, 2021 User deactivated Leave a comment

Today in our garden we have been super busy! The children have worked hard as team to create a fairy garden! Firstly they painted the wooden logs their favourite colour, we then explored the garden to see what other resources we could use then got started, creating it all by themselves using a variety of natural loose parts, Well done!

The children then decided they’d like to make a potion made from a mixture of water, mud, acorns , grass and leaves. They had lots of fun!

The mud kitchen is a very popular area in our garden. It is an exciting, messy and creative area to play in. The children experience sensory and imaginative play as well as developing skills in numeracy, science, interaction and communication. I wonder what they will make next time!

Outdoor Learning

Blue days are good days!

November 24, 2021 Val MacLean Leave a comment

We are so lucky at Cart Mill to have Blue as part of our team. Blue has visited the centre since she was a tiny puppy and the children love to see her when she visits. It has been such a pleasure to watch her grow and to give children the opportunity to care for her.

The children benefit so much from having contact with animals. Caring for pets is an enriching experience for children which offers opportunities to experience nurture, relationships and nature. Froebel noted that ‘The child who has cared for another living thing… is more easily led to care for his own life’ (Froebel in Lilley, 1967:128).

The children benefit from outdoor exercise as they accompany her on her walks and understand there are responsibilities from owning a pet.

We love having Blue days in our centre!