Researchers from UBC and BC Children’s Hospital have launched a new online Outdoor Play and Learning tool, to help parents, caregivers and educators gain the skills and confidence to support outdoor play and learning in elementary schools from kindergarten through Grade 7.
The researchers have studied outdoor play for more than a decade and they want to help elementary school teachers take their classes outside. The new tool was developed by UBC Faculty of Medicine professor Dr. Mariana Brussoni, alongside PhD candidate and long-time outdoor teacher Megan Zeni.
Modules in the tool include how to transition to teaching outdoors, bridge risky play and learning, supervise risky play, and make learning visible. Risky play is where children explore risks and push themselves beyond their usual limits, such as climbing higher or chasing faster.
“Teachers may like the idea of outdoor learning but may not know where to start,” says Zeni, a PhD candidate in the UBC Faculty of Education. “With the help of practical videos, the tool provides concrete advice about navigating barriers, preparing for all-weather learning, making activities accessible to all and teaching various subjects outdoors.”
Please visit the Faculty of Medicine website to read the full story.
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