Bucket School...
- Joanna Wright
- Oct 19, 2016
- 2 min read
Learning outside the classroom: LOtC.
Scary? Overwhelming? Chaotic?
That's what I thought whenever we were first taught about the idea of taking lessons outside of the classroom; whether that be to a museum, the library, the beach, zoo or farm, or even closer to home being the playground or some woodland.
But the use of places other than the classroom for teaching and learning has been shown to improve emotional, social and personal development and also contributes to general health and well being of pupils and teachers. It allows children to have fresh air, first-hand experience, active learning experiences and also to have engaging lessons delivered from the teacher.
"Our children are the first generation to be raised without meaningful contact with the natural world." Louv 2010
Yes, it can be intimidating because today's children are not going outside like previous generations. In our seminar we discussed why this might be:
~increased health and safety
~more common that both parents work so children aren't taken out as much
~"nature deficit disorder"
~technology
~more built up areas- not as much green space
When planned and implemented well, LOtc contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils' personal, social and emotional development. (OFSTED 2008:5)
Why do we use bucket school?
~Versatile, portable, localised learning.
~Fraction of the cost of building an outdoor classroom.
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~Can be tailored to satisfy almost all of the NC 2014 objectives.
~Makes learning engaging, creative and messy!
~Creates an interest in
the local environment.
~Promotes healthy living
and a love of the outdoors.
So, while we used bucket school to study different activities in science (the human body, food webs and chemical reactions) it is evident that any cross-curriculum subject can be taught for example leaves for art, studying geography etc etc. ultimately this will allow us to attain teacher standards 1 by establishing a stimulating environment for pupils, 2, and 4 by ensuring lesson plans are promote a love for learning and children's intellectual curiosity.
Let's get children outside again!
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