An Outdoor Learning Experience Collecting Objects in the Park will Give Children Plenty to Talk About
Letting children gather whatever catches their eye will open up amazing discussions about colours, patterns, textures, shapes and sizes
- by Emma Davis
I hope you don’t mind if I take you back to the autumn for a moment, because it afforded us a wealth of learning opportunities and fun.
There were many different experiences the children enjoyed over that period – kicking the piles of leaves on the ground, cooking apple crumble, counting and sorting autumn items and carving pumpkins.
However, one of our favourite activities took place when we paid a visit to the park and local woodland, a short walk from Busy Bees…
Start collecting
At the park, each child was given a brown paper bag with their name on it, which we explained they could use to collect anything they thought was special. Leaving it open, rather than prescribing what we wanted them to collect allowed for the children to freely choose without limitations.
Our high staff ratios meant practitioners could engage in sustained shared thinking, wondering aloud, for example, how the leaves fall from the trees, why an acorn has a cup and when the leaves might grow back. Children were fully immersed in exploring their environment, looking, listening and smelling what was around them.
Unique approaches
It was particularly interesting to note how differently the children approached the activity. Some were keen to fill their bag as quickly as possible, whereas others took their time and only selected items that appeared to meet their criteria.
We found some beautifully coloured leaves, which afforded a great opportunity to talk about colours, patterns and sizes. Some children selected twigs, which we compared in size together, thinking about which was longer and shorter and introducing the idea of thickness as well.
The area around us contained many different species of trees so we collected and photographed their leaves so we could identify them when we returned to Busy Bees.
One child commented, “I haven’t got an acorn yet” whilst in the park, so we walked the short distance to a wooded area where the children excitedly collected acorns, trying to match them up to their cups. Again, another opportunity to think about sizes and compare quantities. We didn’t take too many as we thought the squirrels might want them for the winter!
Talk it over
When we returned to the setting, we explored our collections, discussing what we liked best and why. Some children decided they wanted to make a picture of ‘Leaf Man’, which tied in with a book we had been reading. They excitedly arranged their finds on paper, sticking them down to make representations of objects such as people, trees and Leaf Man.
We really value the experience of hands-on learning opportunities like this, and regularly take the children out from the setting to explore their local environment. It brings concepts and ideas to life for them, and offers us more scope for learning through play.
Take it further
Leaf Man (Harcourt) The eponymous hero of Lois Ehlert’s tale gets blown away, travelling wherever the wind takes him. A great read for preschoolers and those in Reception.
Transient art Collections of natural objects are ideal for allowing children to create ‘moveable’ pictures, patterns and structures.
Winter wonders Nature might retreat over the colder months, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t interesting objects to collect. From pine cones to pebbles, let your children’s keen eyes lead the way!
Emma Davis is manager at Busy Bees Ledbury
