Why reading lessons should be outdoors

7.4.2017

Article in the TES and the work we do here to support literacy

ake a look at the mention we receive in the TES  - Why you should move your reading lessons outdoors -TES https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/why-you-should-move-your-reading-lessons-outside

On the farm we share storybooks around the farm and in the woods with schoolchildren on day and residential visits; all year round whatever the weather! Our team of trained teachers bring the stories to life with imaginative read-along sessions that include role play, puppets and creative hands on activities. Stories include The Little Red Hen, Farmer Duck, Rosie’s Walk, Gruffalo, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Stickman. Story sessions are fun and stimulating. For example, during our Little Red Hen session the children follow the story on a route round the farm – meeting the real little red hen, finding grains, planting them, harvesting wheat, grinding the wheat into flour, making bread and finally eating it! A great story for teaching children where their food comes from whilst nurturing a life-long love of books and reading. All our story sessions are firm favourites with Reception, Key Stage 1 and special school children. Contact our Education team on 0114 2360096 if you would like to book a session.

On the farm we also work with our local inclusion service, working with Key Stage 1 and 2 children who have been excluded from school or are at risk of being excluded in the near future. Again we use storybook sessions in the woods and on the farm to engage the children and create positive and meaningful literacy experiences. Most recently we have developed an interactive poetry session around the story Green Eggs and Ham.

We also have open days to the general public, our next days are our Lambing Days on the 19th & 20th of April. On these days we are pleased to be joined by local storytelling company ‘Tall Tales’ (http://www.talltalesstoryfestival.co.uk/) They immerse and engage children in stories through books, art, craft, play, theatre and song to fire children’s imaginations and inspire them to become readers and creative thinkers for life. Activities include reading in a bath tub, creating a bed out of hay bales and woodland stories!