4 Ways to Take Your Literacy Outside!

Literacy outside should look very different to what opportunities you offer inside. Think about the richness the outdoors brings and try and create learning moments in nature. We don't want to just bring out alphabet posters outside and stick them on a fence. Instead think of how literacy can be applied in the outdoors in a meaningful way. 

To get you started i've shared a few of the ideas from my Literacy Wanderlust Planning Guides (available here)

1. Nature Study: Create a  Themed Nature Backpack

What do I need?

• Spotter sheets (see my butterfly digital download here)
• Clipboards
• Rucksack
• Bug viewers
• Magnifying glasses
• Notebooks and pencils
• Camera
• Books on butterflies, mini-beasts and trees

What do I do?

Create a themed nature back pack based on your children's curiosities. It could be on butterflies and include a spotter sheet, life cycle information, identification cards, anatomy of a butterfly, butterfly life cycle story stones, fiction and non fiction books on butterflies, photos, a magnifying glass and a butterfly themed notepad. 

If butterflies are not what grabs your children you could try an insect themed one or perhaps one on treasure (which must include a treasure map!). By creating these you're giving the children the perfect opportunity to practice, learn and re-visit their literacy learning in a real context by being explorers!

2. Bring a story to life with nature

What do I need?

• White sheet
• Natural treasures (sticks, foliage, stones, petals) 
• The Visitors By Claire Thompson

What do I do?

Take a look at the story together of The Visitors by Claire Thompson. Working outside on a white sheet and using natural treasures can the children create their own nature story. Take photos of these and make into the children's own book.

3. Re-tell a story

What do I need?

• A great re-telling story like 'We're going on a bear hunt', 'We're going on a lion hunt', '3 Billy Goats Gruff' etc

What do I do?

Find a space to sit outside and share the story together first by reading from the book. Then have a go at standing up and acting out the story together. My children always loved using the long wavy grass to tell the story of We're going on a lion Hunt!' Bringing movement to the story really helps to bring the story to life while keeping everyone engaged and interested!

4. CVC word making with petals

What do I need?

• Flower petals
• Playdough (Un-coloured works best I find!)
• Wooden letters

What do I do?

Working with the child in the playdough can you say a CVC word for them to make. Can they break the word up and find the correct letters to represent the sounds. Then make these with flower petals.

What will you try?

Kimberly x