50 Fantastic Ideas for Exploring Nature

Using natural resources has long been part of the Montessori and Steiner philosophies and some mainstream early years provisions were already starting to emulate this practice. The recent popularity of Forest Schools demonstrates how practitioners recognise the benefits of offering children open-ended activities using natural resources. Not all settings are fortunate enough to have access to a forest or indeed have staff who are Forest School trained, but it is possible to create naturalistic playspaces. Without specialist training practitioners will learn easy ways to develop their children's understanding of how to grow plants, use tools, construct dens and shelters and explore transient art. The activities in this book offer opportunities for open-ended play while the children are off exploring nature and the great outdoors. Here Kate Bass and Jane Vella, busy Early Year practitioners, share with you some of their favourite resources, with ideas from how to enhance your 'mud kitchen' to developing narrative and exciting opportunities to develop creativity while enriching children's language and communication.