St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School grade four student Ryan Reynolds works with a team to construct a shelter using a tarp and rope.
Climbing a tree, splashing in a rocky stream, sleeping under the stars were all regular activities for most of us as children.
The outdoors and nature in all its magnificence, was our playground.
As children spend less time outside immersed in the wonders of nature, and more time sitting inside, glued to a screen, children are missing an important lesson: we are a part of nature, not separate from it.
Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign bought to Ipswich by Nature Play QLD and Ipswich City Council.
On Thursday more than 300 Ipswich school students from four schools came together in Queens Park for a morning of outdoor play.
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School grade one students Joel Sandeep, Prabh Gill, Connor Tainsh and Prabh Gill enjoy morning tea at Queens Park.
Bethany Lutheran Primary School grade three students Sam Fong and Isaac Fatialofa explore different textures at Queens Park.
Their lessons included building a shelter with a tarp and rope, running a nature market stall and building a giant clock.
St Peters Lutheran College grade three student Jaanvi Kanipaku said she really enjoyed her lessons outside.
“It was really fun because we got to climb up on the rocks without the teachers telling us to get off,” Jaanvi said.
Classmate Amielle Gueiat agreed that it was interesting to spend time outside the classroom for class.
“I like the treasure hunt and we found rocks and our teacher explained how the flow of the creeks affects them. It was very different, I like nature,” Amielle said.
St Peters Lutheran College Springfield grade three students Amielle Gueiat, Jaanvi Kanipaku and Evie Martin take part in an outdoor adjective treasure hunt.
Ideas for outdoor learning
*Make a mini landscape out of dirt. Include mountains, valleys and other landforms. Sketch a satellite view of your terrain.
*Make a moustache out of twigs, grass or other things you can find. Once your moustache is in place, give a talk on something without saying words starting with a W (what, where, why, was, we).
*How many different animals can you find in just five minutes, write them down.
*Construct a mini crane out of pebbles. How high can you make it go?
*Get from A to B without being seen by a single bird.
*Sit back to back with someone and listen quietly. List all the things you can hear over three minutes. Did you both hear all the same things?
*Split into two groups. Each group walks through the grounds and writes instructions on how to reach a given point without saying where the end point is. Then swap these instructions with the other group. Are they able to find the end point?
