The Senses and Outdoor Teaching Areas
In the final blog in this series, we consider the use of sound in your outdoor environment and give an overview of the effective usage of all the sensory areas.
Sound in your outdoor space
Outdoor music would offer a wonderful alternative to the usual wind chimes we hear around schools.
External speakers can be strategically placed to allow streamed sound. Equally, instruments can be taken out to be used in a session. Sound making with natural materials is another way to create a soundscape during an activity.
Remember, it is also an area in which sound can be recorded, using simple technology. Rain on canvas, stones tumbling into a container, and water splashing, are all sounds to be captured and then used in other projects. Vocalisations sound different outside than they do in an enclosed space so singing or a soundscape of vocally produced sounds can be hypnotic; once again recording is advised so the moment can be revisited or re-purposed as part of another activity.
Do it yourself – Sound
Sail Away
Protection from the sun and the elements is very important so consider some sails, either fixed or portable.
These:
- Can be used in most weathers
- Used in learners’ own time as a meeting place
- Can be used for outdoor performances day and night
Many learners with additional needs do not get outdoors enough, due to many factors. We think that learners would love a covered area and it would be a fantastic sensory space. It could offer visual, sound, and tactile opportunities by using sails and outdoor audio-visual equipment. It could also incorporate some of the ideas already mentioned previously in this series of blogs.
Sensory Sails as Canopies
A canopy can be a wonderful sensory experience, but it only works if you are going to have access to the sensory space when it’s dark. The canopy is white and lit with LED outdoor lighting.
The effect you get at night or dusk is the sails changing colour overhead. A fantastic visual experience.
You could project stars onto the underside of the sail. The sail could have hanging points so that vertical space can be used with trailing ribbons, fabric fronds, or alternative sensory attractions.
A sound system built into the structure would be a great addition so that learners could listen to music/soundscapes as an integral part of the space under the canopy. What a wonderful play or drama space!
Effective usage of all three spaces
Creating these outdoor spaces is only the first step in the process of ensuring that they are used effectively, adding value and depth to your existing curriculum.
It will be important to do some work as staff on:
- The senses
- Sensory learning
- Sensory opportunity
- Indoor/outdoor curriculum continuity
- Observation/evaluation/assessment in external spaces
- Roles and responsibilities for maintaining the spaces
- Reviewing and refreshing provision
To get the most from your investment in an outdoor sensory space, it is important that time and training happen both as a refresher and a chance to collaborate and share new ideas. This is something that Hirstwood Training can offer and could be Action Research-based so that in addition to ensuring a baseline of shared expertise across all staff, individual projects allow for creative development of activities and therefore increase ownership of the space thus facilitating effective use of the provision by staff and students.
Email lois@hirstwood.com for more information.