Resources

​If you want to learn more about play-based learning and outdoor learning, check out these great resources:

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• Outdoor Learning:

  • Dirty Teaching: A Beginner's Guide to Learning Outdoors by Juliet Roberston

  • Etienna Moostoos-Lafferty’s videos on YouTube

  • Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom

  • The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy by Jon Cree and Marina Robb

  • A Walking Curriculum: Evoking Wonder and Developing a Sense of Place by Gillian Judson

  • Natural Curiosity: A Resource for Educators: Considering Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry by Doug Anderson and Julie Comay

  • Messy Maths: A Playful Outdoor Approach for Early Years by Juliet Robertson

  • The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning by Dr. Jacob Rodenburg and Brew Monkman

  • The Outdoor Classroom in Practice, Ages 3-7: A Month-By-Month Guide to Forest School Provision by Karen Constable

  • Bringing the Forest School Approach to Your Early Year's Practice by Karen Constable

  • Teach Like Finland by Timothy Walker

  • Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive by Pasi Sahberg and Wiliam Doyle

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• Play-Based Learning:

  • Story Workshop: New Possibilities by Susan Mackay

  • Story Making: The Maker Movement Approach to Literacy for Early Learners by Michelle Kay Compton and Robin Chappele Thompson

  • Reggio-Inspired Mathematics by Janice Novakowski

  • Saskatchewan's Play and Exploration Guide

  • Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children by Lisa Daly

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• Observation/Assessment:​

  • The Art of Awareness: How Observation Can Transform Your Teaching by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter

  • Learning Together with Young Children: A Curriculum Framework for Reflective Teachers by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter

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• Classroom Library/Read Alouds to Inspire Outdoor Learning Lessons:

  • The Circle of Sharing and Caring by Theresa "Corky" Larsen-Jonasson

  • Trudy's Healing Stone by Trudy Spiller

  • The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

  • We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

  • Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back: A Native American Year of Moons by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London

  • The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

  • Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht

  • Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

  • The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear

  • Awasis and the World-Famous Bannock by Dallas Hunt

  • Tiny Perfect Things by M.H. Clark

  • Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring or Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak

  • If Bees Disappeared by Lily Williams

  • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

  • The Giving Tree: A Retelling ogg a Traditional Metis Story by Leah Dorion

  • Me and my Sit Spot by Lauren Maclean

  • The Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

  • If You Find a Leaf by Aimee Jicuro

  • Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid

  • Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis

  • Alphabet Everywhere by Elliott Kaufman

  • Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

  • Picture the Sky by Barbara Reid

  • I Hear You, Forest by Kallie George

  • On Our Nature Walk: Our First Talk on Our Impact on the Environment by Dr. Jillian Roberts

  • What's in Your Pocket?: Collecting Nature's Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery

  • A Walk in the Forest by Maria Dek

  • Stand Like a Cedar by Nicola I. Campbell

  • Finding Wild by Megan Wegner Lloyd

  • The Hike by Allison Farrell

  • My Friend Earth by Patricia Maclachlan

  • Math Walk Series by Deanna Pecaski McLennan

  • I'm Thankful Each Day by P.K. Hallinan

  • Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Jake Swamp

  • Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner