Several nurseries have participated in Teaching in Nature with Scottish Natural Heritage. Ailsa, Glencairn,St Brendan`s, Clydeview and Firtrees nurseries have all participated in site vists with Steve Owen the Park Ranger at RSPB nature reserve in Barons Haugh, Motherwell. The nurseries will soon be able to visit their chosen site in the reserve with groups of children.
Get Out Into The Wild at Barons Haugh Nature Reserve
RSPB Scotland’s Baron’s Haugh nature reserve is a great place to get close to nature right on the edge of Motherwell. Being in such an urban area, with an easily accessible wealth of habitats and wildlife, it is the perfect place for all ages to explore their local environment. Our paths and trails take you through ancient forest, wetlands teeming with birds and across flower filled meadows buzzing with bees and butterflies. Whatever the time of year, there is always something interesting to see and find out about.
If you are looking for somewhere to experience the natural world with your family, school, nursery class, or some other group, Baron’s Haugh could be the place for you. There is an extensive open events programme on at weekends and school holidays, from bat walks to wild food tasting and everything in between. Group visits can be arranged with the reserve warden on all kinds of topics, such as
If there is anything else nature or environment related that you would like to look at, we may well be able to help. There are also often opportunities for groups of children and young people to get involved in practical conservation tasks to help improve the reserve for wildlife. Evening visits for groups such as Scouts and Guides can be arranged.
If you are interested in bringing a group along to the Baron’s Haugh, please contact Stephen Owen, RSPB Warden on 07872 814911, or email baronshaugh@rspb.org.uk
For more information on Baron’s Haugh:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/baronshaugh/index.aspx
An information session will be held in February. Keep an eye on the Early Years circulars for more details.
This course equips staff with the knowledge and skills to use woodlands effectively with young children. Next course in February 2013 is now full. Don’t worry! – More dates to come!
You can now access GFL on Facebook at this link-www.facebook.com/gflscotland
Check out their new membership scheme this gives great value.Now starts at only £12. We will be funding some memberships. You will hear soon if you have been successful in your application.
The conference at Mindstretchers in Crieff was great! Kate was informative and kept us hooked all day
The conference was based around the development of a boy’s brain and how a boy interacts with the world around them as they grow.
Firstly, as much as I hate to admit it a boy’s brain develops at a slower rate then girls, although boys usually catch up by the age of 5/6
The different chemical levels released by the body , oestrogen (feminine qualities) and testosterone (masculine qualities) affect how a child reacts to different situations and learning experiences. At 4 years old boys have approx 20 times the level of testosterone in their bodies than girl affecting how they learn and react to differing situations.
By using the information gathered from the conference it has helped to developed my skills as a practitioner in how I look at learning experiences and how I can include this information. It’s still looking at the child as an individual but going to a deeper level.
The conference looks at building learning experiences around the Childs sex, more hands on action based and small group activities for boys, girl on the other hand tend to enjoy larger social situations,. There is more to it but I would be writing an essay if I started.
I know this sounds like gender stereotyping but for some children this will work (We know there is never a hard and fast rule when it comes to children)
Our hands on activities for children in the Forest Kindergarten setting have proven that a different type of environment can change a child’s behaviour. When in the woodland setting our most rough and ready boys are calmer, less aggressive and more eager to learn. Using this different learning style with them has allowed them to access the same educational information but in a different way, boy’s concentration levels increase with and after physical activity. From the picture you can see by using sticks/ stones and other tactile natural materials in the woodland setting our rough and ready boys are engaged as opposed to brightly coloured blocks in the nursery at a table where they would be bored instantly.
Using the Leuven Wellbeing and Involvement scales clearly shows a difference in a boy’s involvement in activities from a classroom setting to a woodland environment.
Using simple strategies when working with boys in particular can really make a difference
*Reward appropriate risk taking
*Speak clearly and always repeat instructions
*Short sentences
* Allow work in progress to be left for boys to go back to
*Talk next to boys, not face to face as this can cause anxiety
Heres some recommended reading to go along with this
The Cleverness of Boys (Book) Sally Featherstone & Ross Bayley
Eric & Diane Jenson (Brain based learning) www.jlcbrain.com
Carla Hannaford Phd (Brain Gym) www.braingym.org
Thanks again Marion, I really enjoyed this conference
Stephen
Stephen Whyteside
St Timothys Primary School & Nursery Class
Old Monkland Road
Coatbridge
Lanarkshire
ML55EA
Telephone 01236 757640
Children in Keir Hardie nursery class have benefitted from Early Years Worker Margo completing her Level 3 Forest Kindergarten training. Here`s some of the activities they`ve enjoyed in a very small wooded area in the school grounds. The whole school approach has also involved the school janitor.
Margo says………………
A few of the photographs are of the children working with a school buddy to tidy and improve a woodlands area. This is a frequent experience that happens within the school year. Recently we recycled all our branches etc. to be used as chipping for the area. The children were amazed as they witnessed the chipping being delivered in a truck and finding out what it would be used for. This has really given them an understanding about recycling.
A few photographs are of the school gardening club. This happened on a Thursday for 6 weeks after the nursery pm session. A poster was displayed to encourage our children and a parent /adult to participate. The school children also designed a flyer to give out to our children to invite them to join them in this gardening experience. Working collaboratively together is a vision shared within the school. I worked with Allan Lynn (teacher), parents, grandparents/carers and the children to explore and tidy our school grounds. This was in various types of weather, rain being the most frequent condition! What a great atmosphere. Being wet was fun for all!
Majority of the photographs are of our nursery children exploring our other woodland area known to them as the ‘Woods’. This area we use frequently to explore the changing environment. Our children are familiar with the area and discuss the changes they witness. Here they also explore climbing trees and now have an understanding of risk assessment and safe risks. Imagination is used in this area frequently; a lot topic related, others initiated by play experiences. Recently we went on a bear hunt in this area; the environmental sounds heightened the children’s imagination. This area is also used for storytelling and outdoor snack experiences.
Forest Kindergarten Training -details and application form are now on F.I.S. Closing date 2nd November.Apply as soona s possible!
Innovative members of the NLC CFE Outdoor Learning group will soon be able to share some of their practice with colleagues across NLC. Nursery staff will share info about their tepees and tree trunks and can advise staff on using boulders and creating an igloo!
We have invested in several of our nurseries this year. We are supporting the development of “Naturalistic Spaces`. Richard Stewart was one of the nurseries who were allocated a boulder. Think of the fun children have when climbing over rocks and boulders at the seaside, well now that enjoyment can happen within nursery play areas. Children develop co-ordination, balance and agility while playing on boulders and these can be combined with other open ended resources to extend learning.
Richard Stewart Nursery is a member of the CFEOL Group and will soon be offering workshops to colleagues across the NLC area.
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