This graduate/advanced undergraduate textbook introduces the concept of loose parts and investigates its use in the outdoor learning environment. Exploring affordance theory as an underpinning approach to outdoor pedagogy, the book will also introduce readers to schemas, explaining why these repeated patterns of childrens play are so important as a window into their world. Loose parts are then discussed as a means of nourishing and nurturing childrens schemas outdoors. The text offers a new lens for educators to observe children through, supporting child development and curriculum development via a holistic pedagogy.
Introduction.- Schematic development: A deepening of the dialogue.-
Outdoor pedagogy in Early Childhood Education.- The ingredients of Effective
Outdoor Environments and how they can nurture schematic development in early
childhood.- Rotational Schema and Loose Parts.- Trajectory Schema and Loose
Parts.- Enclosing and Enveloping Schemas and Loose Parts.- Transporting
Schema and Loose Parts
Orientation and Positioning Schema and Loose Parts.- The Conclusion.
Amanda Thomas is Senior Lecturer in Early Years Education at the University of South Wales, UK. She began teaching in a primary school in 1997 and successfully led the Early Years provision for over 10 years. Amanda also taught in further education for four years, training childcare practitioners. She was awarded her PhD in researching schemas in the Foundation Phase in 2018.
Pavla Boulton is Senior Lecturer in Early Years Education at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. She has taught in primary, secondary and further education, and her main interests are in the pedagogies of outdoor learning and play. Pavla provides continuing professional development for external partners in understanding the holistic development of children and the affordances of outdoor pedagogy. She is currently a PhD student investigating pedagogies of outdoor learning.
