Outdoor Learning in the the Outer Hebrides
The work of the Outdoor Learning Team in the Outer Hebrides; developing Learning for Sustainability and helping soften the classroom walls
As part of helping the Sgoil Araich in Uig to develop their outdoor play Tim went over with the fire pan and a tarp for an hour to look at the fire triangle, set a fire and then toast some grapes and peppers followed by a story round the fire.
This is going to lead to more work in the school and work on developing the area at the back of the school for outdoor play.
Here in the outdoor team we are very busy and so the blog has been at a bit of a stand still. This time last year we posted advice about ticks and it has come up again, we would recommend everyone to watch the BBC Programme Disclosure: Under the Skin
BBC Disclosure: Under the Skin
The programme explains how there has been an increase in the incidence of Lyme Disease and how anyone using the outdoors can guard against catching this terrible disease.
When we are working with young people outdoors it is important we understand there are ticks everywhere potentially including the school estate.
The current NHS Scotland guidelines can be found here Current NHS Scotland Guidelines on Lyme Disease
The Forestry Commission have an excellent informative web page on tick identification:
Forestry Commission Identifying Ticks
We also continue to recommend the NHS Highland video if how to remove a tick:
If you need more help or advice please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Outdoor Team.
Juliet Robertson makes some great recommendations for being outside with early years and primary school pupils in this video.
The comment we like is ‘weather is an adult’s perception not child’s perception’ (8’50”). From the comfort of your desk it looks like a terrible day but when you are out it is rarely wet all day. Preparing to be outside is the important thing.
Hopefully you find her comments as useful as we did. For more information on Juliet her web site is Creative Star
The Scottish Government, the Care Inspectorate and Inspire Scotland have produced a useful new document Out to Play, Practical guidance for creating outdoor play experiences in early learning and childcare.
With the Government expansion of early years provision to 1140 hours per year by 2020, the Out to Play document is practical guidance and advice for early years practitioners on how to access outdoor spaces.
If you click on the link it will take you to the PDF document.
If you would like any help developing outdoor play please contact Tim who will be very happy to come out and talk with you and obviously play in the outdoors.
We are in the middle of the busy season, with the team out and about working with schools and young people in the outdoors. There are often questions about ticks and Lymes disease, we thought it would be useful to post some information about what to do if you are bitten by a tick and things you can do to prevent being bitten.
It is important ticks should not stop you going outside but to take a few sensible precautions to prevent being bitten and if you are, what to do about it.
Lymes disease if carried by ticks which latch on and then take a blood meal. The Comhairle have produced a leaflet with information on the disease (CnES Tick leaflet). More information can be found on the Lymes Disease Action web site.
There is an excellent YouTube video produced by NHS highland on how to remove a tick with Dr James Douglas
There is also good advice from the NHS Scotland web site:
Ticks are small spider-like creatures that can be found on bushes and undergrowth in Scotland’s countryside, parks and gardens from spring through summer and well into autumn. Most ticks that bite people are unlikely to be carrying the germ that causes Lyme disease, but there’s no way of knowing at the time. So, it is best to:
You can reduce your chances of being bitten by ticks by:
Tim and Andrew were asked to come into Stornoway Playgroup with the fire pan to do a session with the young people on fire. In their project they have been talking about the enchanted forest, dragons and how they breath fire.
Tim and Andrew set up the fire pan down the side of the Scout Hall, where the playgroup happens and lit the fire. The young people were put into groups of about seven and they came out with coats and hats on.
When each group came out Tim asked them what the knew about fire, all the groups told him ‘it was hot’, ‘it would keep you warm’ and you ‘can use it to cook’. Tim then introduced the idea of the three things which a fire needs; fuel, spark and oxygen. They pointed out the wood is fuel and Tim explained about air is full of oxygen and because it was cold they were able to puff out vapour, like a dragon breathing smoke. Tim then showed them a flint and steel and the spark it produces. Each young person was then able to have a go striking and creating sparks.
The fire was then used to ‘cook’ grapes on the end of a skewer which the young people had chance to eat.
Tim and Andrew always love the opportunity to hear small dragons roar round the fire.
Over the weekend an invitation to sign up for this event arrived, this is a great opportunity run by the British Council and the University of Edinburgh. It is a facilitated online learning course which is free and is a GTCS accredited course (General Teaching Council for Scotland).
Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is one of the Standards for Career Long Professional Learning set out in the GTCS standards. The course is also endorsed by The Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL).
The course starts on the 19th January so sign up soon.
If you answer YES to any of the following questions, then you should be seriously considering this course:
The Course will help you with think about the following:
This is a fantastic opportunity and we recommend considering taking part.
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