Quay Academy pupils enjoy great outdoor lessons
Children at Quay Academy, part of the David Ross Education Trust, enjoyed special Autumn lessons in the school grounds.
As part of Quay Academy’s commitment to giving children a well-rounded education both inside and outside of the classroom, this Outdoor Learning activity is designed to support children’s personal development along with their academic progress.
The Year 1 children, aged 5 and 6, explored the natural materials around them foraging for fallen leaves, textured twigs and vibrant wildflowers. The children used what they had found to design and make their very own nature crowns.
By carefully attaching the treasures they had found to simple cardboard headbands, pupils combined art and science, developing their fine motor skills, creativity and observing the natural world up close. The children explored playing as kings and queens in the garden, using their imagination and outdoor play equipment to learn through play and interaction with each other.
Caroline Broadhead, principal at Quay Academy said: “This was a brilliant learning experience for our children who got to have fun outdoors whilst listening, learning and communicating with each other. The children got close to nature, finding and collecting items that they could then wear.. They explored, played and experimented and had lots of fun.Outdoor play helps children to build confidence, resilience and teamwork. ”
Quay Academy’s specialist PE teacher, Christie Trower said: “This term, our outdoor learning adventures have centered around the natural wonders of Autumn. The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring our local environment, using all their senses to discover the vibrant colours, rich textures, and unique smells of the changing season.
“Back in our outdoor classroom, they transformed these Autumn treasures into wonderful creative masterpieces.
“Using conkers, they engineered imaginative rockets, snails, and hedgehogs, and further developed their fine motor skills by sculpting detailed hedgehogs out of clay. It has been a wonderful term of hands-on exploration and artistic discovery and it was fantastic to see our young explorers so engaged, enthusiastic and proud of their own unique creations.”
Quay Academy will be showcasing the school at an Early Years Open Evening on Thursday, November 26 between 4pm and 5pm.