Download OCR Document - ICT in the Early Years

What children need in Outdoor Play
~ SPACE - to be physically active
~ TIME - to observe and explore and become interested in
the natural world
/ QUIET - to be reflective, sit and dream or talk to a
friend
/ OPPORTUNITY - to play with friends, imagine, create,
problem solve and communicate
/ OPPORTUNITIES - to use materials and resources in
ways which are not possible indoors
/ CHALLENGES - for physical, social, emotional and
intellectual development
/ SUPPORT - from empathetic adults who can help to make
connections in their learning and support and extend
ideas
~ SUITABLE CLOTHING - which enables them to move
freely and safely and experience a range of weathers
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Why Outdoor Play is so Important - Homerton Nursery
School
. For developing PSED skills. Helping to develop positive
relationships with others, sharing, turn taking, problem
solving, negotiating.
. For developing self confidence. To give a sense of
achievement, awe and wonder.
. For developing physical strength and coordination. A
sense of physical well bei ng.
. For developing a healthy attitude to the outdoors - to
fresh air and to exercise
. For encouraging independence, for taking responsibility
and making choices for autonomous learning.
. For enabling risk taking and understanding what or what
not is dangerous to themselves and others.
· For increasing their awareness of the natural world, the
seasons and the changes that occur throughout the year
,
· For the development of creativity - to be able to paint on a
large scale, to make music joyfully and loudly, to use their
imaginations fully.
· For the sensory and tactile experiences of digging in the wet
mud, feeling rain on our faces, touching a slimy worm...
Questions about your own outdoor area:
1.
Can children choose to move freely indoors
and outdoors for extended periods?
2. Do you plan and prepare the learning
opportunities outdoors with the same care as
those indoors?
3. Do you tell parents/carers as much about the
children's outdoor achievements as their indoor
ones? (This is an effective barometer for
assessing the value you attach to outdoor
learning opportunities.)
4. Do staff engage with the children outdoors and
help them extend their play?
5. Is there plenty of flexible equipment for
children to move about and arrange?
6. Can children go out in all weathers?
7. Is the area physically challenging?
8. Are there different levels and surfaces in the
area?
9. Can children access the whole curriculum
outside?
10. Is the area safe?
ICT ideas for a garden centre
Delivering plants
- use of Bee-Bot Scanner for
bar codes and till - check out
Temperature sensor - reading temperature for growing
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Using camera/microscope to record growth of a plant
Temperature/humidity sensor
Journey around garden centre using Bee-Bot
Walkie-talkie or 2 way head set for till or information centre to outside worker Digital
camera for photos of different plants, growth of plants etc
Digital Microscope for examining soil. petals etc
Digital movie maker for taking photo footage of a visit to garden centre. bring back and
use as a back drop for role play inside
Tannoy system with speaker outside for outside worker to collect plants
Digital photos. photocopied silhouettes. to help sort objects in role play area e.g. match
pots and tools of different sizes to their photos or silhouettes
Take a series of photos for time lapse photography of, say, a sunflower growing Tape
recorder for stories/rhymes/music involving plants
Use a word processor to make labels/badges/prices etc for the centre. add images from
the web
Nature grid Big books: http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/infant/bigbook.html
Use the web to down load images of plants to stick on plant pots. plant seeds for sale etc
Watering system - turn a switch to water plants, possibly can buy cheap watering systems to use
for weekends involving a program for timing
Design garden on IWB using gallery or in Textease- design different gardens for different
purposes
Talking photograph album - images of different parts of garden centre or different plants
Link to weather work - use 2Simple 2Count. websites, gallery in IWB - use alongside
smart recorder to record weather forecast