Mud is a natural part of childhood and is invaluable for children’s sensory development. It provides a source of creativity and research suggests it’s beneficial to children’s overall wellbeing. Get some practical ideas to explore mud play from our ‘Dirt + Water = Childhood info sheet.
Excellent resource full of great ideas and imagery to help families and care providers restore nature to children’s everyday outdoor play and learning environments. Includes information on the developmental benefits of nature play,the importance of risk taking, where to start and how to implement change in your play space. Includes a list of suggested materials to introduce, different types of settings, how to manage a nature play space and the importance of getting children’s input right from the beginning.
A curriculum resource that identifies various lesson plans and connections to water for 7-10 utilising the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Education programs resources
Year Level: 7, 8, 9, 10
Subject Area: Cross Curricular
A curriculum resource that identifies various lesson plans and connections to water for 3-6 utilising the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Education programs resources
Year Level: 3, 4, 5, 6
Subject Area: Cross Curricular
A curriculum resource that identifies various lesson plans and connections to water for years 7-10 utilising the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Education programs resources
Year Level: 7, 8, 9, 10
Subject Area: Cross Curricular
Melbourne’s Nature Play was named best playground of 2016 by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Built on the site of the former Nurses’ station around the corner from the Royal Childrens’ hospital, the playground’s design reflects the seven seasons described by the Wurundjeri people, traditional owners of the area. Each zone includes a design element or native indicator of these seasons like the silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) which blooms when transitioning from the wombat season (winter) to the orchid season (spring). The playground features sand and water play, rocky inclines, swings and slides nestled amongst thousands of new plantings overlooked by an enormous hill giving expansive views of the grounds and city beyond.
Length: 6m : 08s
Host Clare Crew outlines the key elements of risky play and their importance to children’s development: height, speed, tools, fire, water, rough & tumble and being out of sight. She discusses fostering resilience, time constraints and other challenges.
Length: 25m : 48s
World renowned childhood consultant Claire Warden discusses nature pedagogy and curriculum, barriers to change and overcoming obstacles when taking inside learning outside and beyond into the wildness of nature.
Length: 37m : 27s