“That which ought and can best be taught inside the classrooms should be taught there, and that which can best be learned through experience dealing directly with native materials and life situations outside the school should there be learned.” Lloyd B. Sharp (1895 – 1963)
From Empty Classroom Day to Forest Schools
Last year we introduced Empty Classroom Day. Inspired by the London-based initiative of the same name, we dedicated one day each half term to working outside. To provide a focus each day had a different subject link. While there was a great atmosphere around school on those days, with a real buzz of excitement from both staff and children, we didn’t restrict ourselves to only working outside on those days. In truth we found ourselves doing more and more outside as we explored the rich learning that can happen just beyond the classroom doors. The children are warned: poor weather is no barrier! Unless it is dangerous we will be going out! “Pull on your wellies and waterproofs and let’s head out.” As we planned for the development of outdoor learning at Wensum, one of our teaching assistants, Ms Metcalf, expressed a passion for outdoor learning and we agreed to train her up to deliver Forest Schools. We are proud to announce that from September 2016, each class will have a 6 week block of Forest Schools. In addition to this exciting development, we will retain our commitment to learning outdoors so that “that which can best be learned outside the school should there be learned.”
WJS appears on Creative Star Learning blog
Creative Star Learning is a resource and blog for teachers using the great outdoors to create powerful learning experiences. Following correspondence between Mr Hubery and Juliet Robertson (founder of Creative Star Learning and author or Dirty Teaching) a blog post has gone live on the site recording the outdoor fractions work undertaken by Stark class in December. Click the link to read the post: Creative Star Learning blog.