Making a natural playground: theory and practice
Karen Marie Eid Kaarby
This presentation explores the focus on the outdoor environment in the Framework
Plan and how this is reflected in our teaching. The Framework Plan requires kindergartens to ensure that children “have positive experiences of outdoor activities and being outdoors in different seasons, and develop a love of using nature fro exploration and physical challenges.” To achieve this staff must “ensure good planning, flexible preparation and flexible use of the physical environment, as well as assessing how the local neighbourhood can supplement the kindergarten’s premises at different times of year” (Ministry of Education and Research 2006, pp.22-23).
Two classes of students from a module in Outdoor learning (30 ECTS credits) at the early learning teacher education at Oslo University College have assessed the process of making a natural playground as very useful, instructive and motivational. In my presentation I want to reflect upon how the students solved the task: like which criteria they considered when choosing an area, and how they arranged for play and learning. All in line with our view that children learn and experience through their bodies and hat learning is situated and social.
Norway
Tel: +47 22452306
Email:karenmarieeid.kaarby@lu.hio.no
