Thinking Outside ...

Work(shop) With Us​!

We have shared our story with: teacher candidates, educators, school leaders and many others. We are available to deliver presentations, workshops or "walk-shops" in your area too!    

Examples of our Presentations and Workshops:

• Rain or Shine: Let's Learn Outside

• E-STEAM 

• Mindfulness Outside the Classroom

• The Outdoor Makerspace

• Mathematics & Nature-Based Learning

• Pedagogical Documentation of Nature-Based Learning

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Contact:

Joanne at: joanne.burbidge@ocdsb.ca, @Mme_Joanne

Jacquie at: jacqueline.whelan@ocdsb.ca, @mmejacquie

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Facebook: Thinking Outside Page

Twitter: Thinking Outside Twitter

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Click here for Upcoming Thinking Outside Events

Taking students outside and into nature has a positive impact on their learning and well-being. But how do you set-up a nature-based learning program? This workshop explores the fundamentals of planning, implementing and assessing a nature-based learning program in any type of school setting. Whether you have a small kindergarten yard or access to nearby nature, you will leave this workshop with examples of guided, self-guided and experiential learning activities for students K-3 and the confidence to take your students out into nature. Come dressed to go outside!​

Our students are living very hurried lives, filled with after-school activities and busy family schedules. Taking time to stop, reflect, and just be is a gift we can offer them. We know that taking students outside and into nature has a positive impact on their learning and well-being. This workshop will explore a variety of outdoor learning activities which promote mindfulness, including Listening Walks and the magic of Sit Spots. Participants will create a number of “Make & Takes” including reflection journals, journey sticks, and sit upons.

We all know the importance of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics into the classrooms but the confines of time and space present challenges. By taking students outside, where there is more space to create, play, remix. During this workshop participants will learn how to set up an outdoor makerspace, invite students to begin creating will through read alouds, provocations and challenges, and plan a cross-curricular E-STEAM program. ​

21st Century students need to develop 21st Century skills, such as creativity, in order to prepare them for the world of tomorrow. Loose parts play, by using open-ended materials with no fixed definitive use, but high play value, encourages children to tap into their inner inventor, artist, engineer, etc. This workshop is designed for educators with previous interest in learning outdoors and in nature, who want to push their practice in a new direction, from nature-based learning programme to one which also integrates Loose Parts in the Outdoor Makerspace and builds a community of learners. Participants will be introduced to the invention cycle (create, play, remix and share),  how to use Apps (e.g., Google Keep, Seesaw, etc.) to document learning related to the Four Frames of the Kindergarten Curriculum, and challenges which will unleash students’ creativity.