Give outdoors space the artistic touch

The organiser, Learning Through Landscapes, has come up with a range of practical ideas and activities to inspire early years settings to join in its 'Exhibition Mission'.

The national school grounds charity wants as many nurseries and schools as possible to take part and turn their outdoor areas into a temporary art gallery for parents and the wider local community to enjoy.

Catherine Andrews, chief executive of LTL, said, 'Nursery and school grounds provide a space that enables children to express themselves imaginatively and in ways that aren't possible inside. From messy art to large-scale sculptures, the possibilities are inspiring. We are really looking forward to seeing settings and schools participate in National School Grounds Week, by exhibiting their works and providing local communities with a display that brightens their street and outdoor environment.'

The following are some of LTL's suggestions for putting creative approaches to learning on display.

- Catch a Shadow

Shadows provide perfect life-size images for children to explore different shapes and become more aware of the world around them. Turn shadows into a semi-permanent self-portrait by chalking around them and filling in with paint and other natural resources. All you need is a sunny day.

- Clay creatures

Celebrate your setting's biodiversity by modelling small creatures out of clay and creating homes for them outdoors. Exploring wildlife in your setting helps children learn about lifecycles and the food chain, as well as encouraging them to think about the needs of wildlife and to develop a sense of care and responsibility towards it. Log piles, stone piles, leaf litter, trees and tree bark, ponds, mud patches and even your compost bin are all great spots for children to discover insects, molluscs, beetles, earwigs, worms, and birds, frogs and squirrels.

- Further information

To register and find out how your setting can take part, visit www.ltl.org.uk/nsgw