Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Children participate in story-telling activities based in and about their yards. Younger children will head outside to listen to stories and to identify features of these stories that can be found in the yard. Older children will head outside to listen to stories and to create their own stories about adventures had in the yard.
This activity is designed to help connect children to the wonders of the natural world through sensory and play-based learning.
This lesson is designed to be taught outside. It contains all the tools required for children to reap the benefits of being outdoors while meeting the learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. By spending time outdoors and connecting to nature, children are more likely to care for and conserve nature as adults.
We’ve taken elements of this lesson and adapted them for remote learning. You can find this activity here.
EYLF Learning Outcome |
Elaborations |
Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world |
3. Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment |
Outcome 4: Children are involved and confident learners |
1. Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity 3. Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, place, technologies, and natural and processed materials |
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators |
1. Children interact verbally and non verbally with others for a range of purposes 2. Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts 3. Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media |
Resources required:
- Picture books/stories featuring aspects of the natural world
- Story cards or materials for creating story cards – printed photos of yard and children
Supporting resources:
- Why learn outdoors?
- Tips for making outdoor learning easier
- Designing your outdoor learning space
- Outdoor Learning – Risks/hazards and actions
Cool Australia would like to thank The Albert George & Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust – managed by Equity Trustees.
The team at Cool Australia continually reviews and refines our Early Learning resources in line with expert advice and current educational practices.