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Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

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Welcome to the Creative STAR website and blog - the digital gateway to outdoor learning and play

Inside these pages are lots of practical ideas about learning and playing outdoors that have been written and/or curated by myself, Juliet Robertson - a former education consultant who specialised in learning and play outside. Feel free to:

Read the 500+ blog posts - the tabs at the top will help guide you OR use the search button below my photo in the RH column

Explore the comprehensive collections of literacy and maths suggestions

Check out the grant info

Share the love - if you borrow an idea, backlink to the blog post, tell us and we'll celebrate too 🙂

Clink on the links on the RH column. The search button is handy too! Join millions of others who've browsed the site since 2008. All posts are dated so that you know if something is current or more historic.
Life has its ups and downs. I was diagnosed with having Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in late December 2020. If you want to know how I'm getting on, then have a look at my Caring Bridge website every now and then as that's where I post updates. The Cosy Foundation have now taken over this website and other aspects of Creative STAR Learning, for which I am very grateful. I am still curating this website and have editorial control.

If you would like to help me make a difference, then please consider making a donation to Flynne's Barn, a charity which enables young people living with cancer to come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings. For more information about why I'm supporting this charity, have a look at my Flynne's Barn page or visit their website. THANK YOU!

A positive approach to being outside

Within this website you will find lots of ideas and accompanying photos that contain elements of risk. It is important that you consider all the suggestions on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are appropriate for the developmental age and learning needs of your children. You also need to ensure that you are suitably competent and confident to ensure the routines, resources and environment are as safe as necessary. Remember to undertake a risk-benefit assessment for anything you feel needs it be this using tools and ropes, experiencing fire, climbing trees and other experiences involving heights, moving heavy objects, working off-site, near water and so-on. Creative STAR Learning is all about enabling great outdoor practice but every educator and establishment needs to undertake this within a framework of safety.

Likewise it is important that wherever you are working you follow the land access laws of your country. Being respectful of others, leaving no trace of your presence and considering the impact of your practice on the environment are all part of your responsibilities as educators.

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Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

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Creative STAR Learning Company works behind the scenes supporting and developing outdoor learning and play at a national, local and school level

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Inspire learners by making connections between STEM skills, wild places and outdoor learning approaches

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The Outdoor Learning Map

Discover

Discover the wild places you never knew existed and the resources to help you explore. Check out what other groups and schools are up to in and around Edinburgh. Find resources, lesson ideas and links to support your experience in the outdoors.

Search

Contribute

Become part of our outdoor learning community and share your work with likeminded individuals. Put your green space on the map and showcase what you have been up to, celebrate achievement and share top tips for using your green space in an interactive way.

Contribute

Search the wide variety of approved providers that can help support and inspire your outdoor learning adventures.

INTRODUCTON TO THE MAP

We are The City of Edinburgh Council’s Outdoor Learning Team.

The idea for the Outdoor Learning Map first came to us in 2017 from our work with Primary School teachers around Edinburgh. Through consultation with a wide network of teachers and other organisations delivering Outdoor Learning the structure of the map took shape. Funding from Forest and Land Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage allowed us to fund staff time and work with Web developers Advanceworx to develop, test and embed the map you are now seeing.

Learn more

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Edinburgh outdoor learning helps kids and young people find engaging and fun outdoor experiences. This can help support learning, growth and well-being.

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Outdoor maths - Learning in Local Greenspace

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Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Welcome to the Creative STAR website and blog - the digital gateway to outdoor learning and play

Inside these pages are lots of practical ideas about learning and playing outdoors that have been written and/or curated by myself, Juliet Robertson - a former education consultant who specialised in learning and play outside. Feel free to:

Read the 500+ blog posts - the tabs at the top will help guide you OR use the search button below my photo in the RH column

Explore the comprehensive collections of literacy and maths suggestions

Check out the grant info

Share the love - if you borrow an idea, backlink to the blog post, tell us and we'll celebrate too 🙂

Clink on the links on the RH column. The search button is handy too! Join millions of others who've browsed the site since 2008. All posts are dated so that you know if something is current or more historic.
Life has its ups and downs. I was diagnosed with having Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in late December 2020. If you want to know how I'm getting on, then have a look at my Caring Bridge website every now and then as that's where I post updates. The Cosy Foundation have now taken over this website and other aspects of Creative STAR Learning, for which I am very grateful. I am still curating this website and have editorial control.

If you would like to help me make a difference, then please consider making a donation to Flynne's Barn, a charity which enables young people living with cancer to come together and find connection in beautiful surroundings. For more information about why I'm supporting this charity, have a look at my Flynne's Barn page or visit their website. THANK YOU!

A positive approach to being outside

Within this website you will find lots of ideas and accompanying photos that contain elements of risk. It is important that you consider all the suggestions on a case-by-case basis to determine whether they are appropriate for the developmental age and learning needs of your children. You also need to ensure that you are suitably competent and confident to ensure the routines, resources and environment are as safe as necessary. Remember to undertake a risk-benefit assessment for anything you feel needs it be this using tools and ropes, experiencing fire, climbing trees and other experiences involving heights, moving heavy objects, working off-site, near water and so-on. Creative STAR Learning is all about enabling great outdoor practice but every educator and establishment needs to undertake this within a framework of safety.

Likewise it is important that wherever you are working you follow the land access laws of your country. Being respectful of others, leaving no trace of your presence and considering the impact of your practice on the environment are all part of your responsibilities as educators.

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Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

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Creative STAR Learning Company works behind the scenes supporting and developing outdoor learning and play at a national, local and school level

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The UN Sustainable Development Goals are at the centre of everything we do - as is the case with much of the work of our members. We work with our members and partners to strengthen the SDGs in Scotland and beyond.

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The term learning for sustainability (LfS) was created to help schools, early learning and childcare settings see how global citizenship, outdoor learning, and sustainable development education activities overlapped and could be joined up.

Learning for sustainability is now a core part of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) Professional Standards.

This document examines what great LfS looks like. It demonstrates how meeting national LfS recommendations can enable schools, early learning and childcare settings to achieve great outcomes. The paper also provides a range of career-long professional learning activities to support whole-school dialogue and strategic development of LfS.

Download(s)
PDF file: Opening Up Great Learning - Learning for sustainability (1.2 MB)

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Opening Up Great Learning - Learning for sustainability

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Education Scotland is a Scottish Government executive agency responsible for supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education.

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With acrostic 'spells' by Robert Macfarlane and beautiful watercolour artwork by Jackie Morris, The Lost Words conjures back to glorious life some natural words fading from usage.

Published in October 2017, this beautifully illustrated book focuses on words that are moving to the margins of many children's lives and stories - bluebell, dandelion, otter, kingfisher, acorn - and presents them as both challenge and celebration.

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With acrostic 'spells' by Robert Macfarlane and beautiful watercolour artwork by Jackie Morris, The Lost Words conjures back to glorious life some natural words fading from usage. Published in October 2017, this beautifully illustrated book focuses on words that are moving to the margins of many children's lives and stories - bluebell, dandelion, otter, kingfisher, acorn - and presents them as both challenge and celebration.

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Welcome to the Outdoor Learning and Learning for Sustainability Wakelet from Education Scotland. This Wakelet is a collection of links to online resources to support outdoor learning and Learning for Sustainability These links could take you to the National Improvement Hub, Glow, Websites or YouTube.

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Choose from a range of different activities linked to trees and sticks!

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50 Ways to Experience Edinburgh Outdoors

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50 Ways to Experience Edinburgh Outdoors

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50 ways to experience outdoors - Outdoor Learning

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Edinburgh outdoor learning helps kids and young people find engaging and fun outdoor experiences. This can help support learning, growth and well-being.

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Outdoor Learning Services and Information

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A one-stop-shop to outdoor learning services and information provided by Scottish public bodies for environment, forestry, heritage and education.

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A story about a Scottish tree for each month with supporting information folklore, recipes and facts about each tree.

Tree Stories was written by Claire Hewitt over a year and inspired by Highland Perthshire's beautiful fauna and flora. Each story was created during the month with which its tree is linked in folklore.

Tree Stories is also available as a pdf in gaelic.

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A story about a Scottish tree for each month with supporting information folklore, recipes and facts about each tree. Tree Stories was written by Claire Hewitt over a year and inspired by Highland Perthshire's beautiful fauna and flora. Each story was created during the month with which its tree is linked in folklore.

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Brilliant webinar to introduce idea of Place Responsiveness.

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Outdoor Learning: What the Research Says.....

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Outdoor Learning: What the Research Says.....

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What can we learn from outdoor learning research

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Home - Love Outdoor Learning - Enhancing Learning Outdoors

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Welcome to Love Outdoor Learning. We help children grow, develop and learn whilst they connect with their natural environment.

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Early Childhood-nature relations in Scottish school-based outdoor learning

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Early Childhood-nature relations in Scottish school-based outdoor learning

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Early Childhood-nature relations in Scottish school-based outdoor learning

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Outdoor Learning Services and Information

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Early childhood-nature relations in Scottish school-based outdoor learning - Outdoor Learning Services and Information

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NatureScot’s Magnus Magnusson Studentship supported a PhD research project at […]

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Outdoor Learning Contexts for Writing: Progression

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Scotland's Outdoor Play & Learning Coalition

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Scotland's Outdoor Play & Learning Coalition

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Play into Summer!

Playing outdoors is essential for our children and young people to understand, value, enjoy and protect our natural world. In Scotland, this means playing outside in all weathers.

The summer is a treasure trove of experiences and play opportunities that are vital to development and enjoyment. The days get longer and nature is all around.

Summer is a wonderful time to explore your community and natural environment - get out and play!

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Play Scotland, the national expert in Play

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Delivering and celebrating children and young people's right to play. Leading, campaigning and planning for a more playful Scotland