Virtual Nature School 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Showing curiosity as we explore sand. Creating patterns and discovering hidden objects. @EarlyYearsNLC @earlyyearsscot @VNatureSchool

We began our ‘stone’ inquiry in the EYC this week with our talking tub. Afterwards, we went exploring in our village and found stone walls, houses, steps and a bridge made of stone, ‘ginormous’ boulders in the river and a stone war memorial too.@VNatureSchool

Today some of our friends were surprised to discover that the paintings they had been looking at, by Henry Neubig, had been painted entirely out of mud! They mixed mud, water and even brambles to make their own! @ELCScotGov #vns #naturepedagogy #inquirybasedlearning @ScotGovEdu

At Barrhill, children used the water wall with different containers to collect and transfer the water. They realised the faster they poured the water at the top, the quicker it would come out of the pipe at the bottom to fill the buckets #vns @ELCScotGov #inquirybasedlearning

This week our friends at Crossford Primary noticed worms were making holes in the mud which lead to conversations on how the holes were made and how they push into the ground. They found a family of worms and made up a story about how they could look after them. #vns @ScotGovEdu

Showing curiosity as we explored ice. We are finding different ways of exploring water. We touched the smooth ice and watched it drip as it melted. We looked through the ice. We noticed the shape of the frozen numbers. @EarlyYearsNLC @earlyyearsscot @VNatureSchool

After a downpour of rain we noticed things differently today. One friend pointed to the patterns on the log. Another said “did you know this puddle is 42mts?” There was steam coming from the bark and another friend drew himself! Busy learning today.@VNatureSchool @Hilltop_PC

This week our friends in Clackmannanshire were exploring near the dam. They noticed different textures in the parts to the dam and explored the sand while watching the ducks. Sand ✅ Water✅ Mud✅ #vns @ELCScotGov #naturepedagogy #inquirybasedlearning

We continue to explore and investigate water in the EYC with @VNatureSchool. We visited the local river then created our own ‘river’ using loose parts and water. We also explored ways to change the water and to make it move and ‘vibrate’. Lots of fun science and discovery 💦

Still analysing and investigating the rain water in our garden tray @VNatureSchool. Making patterns in the wet sand using various tools. Watching the wet sand stick to the ground “splat” and finding small toys in the sand “look it’s stuck to the train” @Hilltop_PC @EarlyYearsNLC

Sharing and negotiating sand toys. Exploring the puddle from a safe place, being mindful and just enjoying the wet sand and another friend used a crayon to look at the pattern on the wet log she saw earlier. @VNatureSchool @Hilltop_PC @EarlyYearsNLC gardens are good to learn in

Our EYC children and staff are delighted to be back with @VNatureSchool for another season of discovery, exploration and nature based learning. During our whole school STEM week, we are exploring water and investigating the ways in which we can change it 💦 🫧 🧪

Oscars Playscheme have introduced walking days where the children go for walks in their area. Staff have benefitted from advice & training on creating more opportunities to embrace the outside environment. map.virtualnatureschool.scot @nlcpeople @ScotGovEdu @nlancouncil #VNSmap

VNS helped Auchtertyre Primary Nursery develop staff confidence introduce, develop & embed change as well as measuring impact for children. @HighlandCouncil" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">map.virtualnatureschool.scot/@HighlandCounc… @keisser1 @MairiMackay7 @ClareBlair14 @LiaHunter @NickyGrant10 @HighlandCouncil #VNSmap

Banff Nursery's practice has been more about the resources available rather than the conversations with the children. Since VNS they are having deeper conversations & bring the learning outdoors. Read more @Aberdeenshire" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">map.virtualnatureschool.scot/@Aberdeenshire @ELCScotGov #VNSmap #floorbooks

Dr Claire Warden sat down with Speech and Language Therapist Jane Wilson to discuss Cohort 4 of VNS. They discuss the state of speech & language post-Covid & how a nature-based approach can help us promote oracy & social communication. Listen here bit.ly/3aWFIWs

Cohort 4 of the Virtual Nature School will be starting this September! Registration is open & we will be holding an orientation webinar on Thursday the 16th of June. Find out more and register your interest on our website: virtualnatureschool.org/cohort4 @ELCScotGov, #EYFS #outdoorplay

Children at Auchlone were excited to show the Queen's representative, Lord Hodge around their nature kindergarten last week. His Grace thanked Dr. Claire Warden and her team for hosting @VNatureSchool and for decades of exemplary nature-based learning. #GA2022 @churchmoderator

The team at Banchory Primary Staff are more confident & have a better understanding of how to follow the lead of children as a result of VNS. Read more about their experience at @Aberdeenshire" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">map.virtualnatureschool.scot/@Aberdeenshire @ScotGovEdu @earlyyearsscot#VNSmap #floorbooks #outdoorplay

Alexy, Dorotka & Steph said that VNS opened up their outside areas & gave both the children and themselves more confidence in exploring. Read more map.virtualnatureschool.scot @FifeCouncil @ELCScotGov @ScotGovEdu @earlyyearsscot @FifeCouncil #VNSmap #inquirybasedlearning #floorbooks