11+ Backyard Stations

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Last year I had an epiphany that has really changed my life:  Backyard stations are the solution to all my problems.

Well, maybe not all my problems, that's a big ask, but they do encourage prolonged outdoor play and who doesn't want more of that?!

Following are the stations I've been setting up for my kids.  

Now that I have collected all the items for the stations, it only takes a few minutes to set them up, and they result in hours of extended play.  They also promote an active lifestyle and healthy child development (Australian Curriculum, Health and PE).

We went 'screen free' these past holidays so it was good to have some outdoor ideas in my arsenal.  The transition to 'screen free' turned out to be really easy for us.

1.  Digging / mud pit

This station has shovels, buckets, a pick axe and trowels.  We're big fans of these Ames shovels.

Once in a while I leave the hose on for a bit to create a mud pit.  

It's great fun to bounce straight off the trampoline into knee-deep mud... and my kids love digging for 'treasure'.

Muffin pans and natural items make nice additions to this station.

2.  Water play

As well as putting out measuring equipment and water toys, I snip some flowers and herbs for this station.

Chalk, a hammer, mortars and pestles offer extra play possibilities.  The chalk can be crushed and mixed with water to create paint or used straight on the pavers.  

Sometimes my sons ask for cloth to dye with flowers or spices to grind up.

3.  Trestle table

On a table I put some easy art or science activities, such as our DIY science kit, watercolour paints, a nature tray with magnifying glass, playdough, or seeds for bird pizzas.

4.  Small world play

My kids are really too old for this, but they can still be enticed... the trick is to call it 'diorama creation'. *Smug smirk*  

Both my boys have enjoyed making biomes and habitats for plastic animals at different times.  You could add dinosaurs, diggers, fairies... 

5.  Gardening

My sons are sometimes in the mood to earn extra pocket money by pulling weeds.  They also LOVE cutting up large pieces of garden waste with loppers and the saw.

6.  Rugs and cushions

If I leave out a picnic rug, my oldest will invariably bring out his current book to just chill.  As well as rugs and cushions, I have a double sleeping bag dedicated to outdoor use.

I'm into meditation at the moment and quite enjoy using these cushions and rugs to meditate outdoors.

7.  A strategy game

We keep a congklak board outdoors.  (My son is making these to sell so if you want one message me through the address in my profile.  Post coming soon about congklak).

8.  Whittling

This is something we're only just getting into:  For Christmas my son Roo got some whittling books - Forest Craft by Richard Irvine, The Little Book of Whittling - and an Opinel No.7 knife.  You can also get an Opinel with a round tip, but we went with the sharp tip. 

9.  Fire

We have an antique Italian brazier called a frascera which we use when the weather is cold.  The kids love to toast things on it or occasionally cook in it.  We also sometimes share poetry and stories around it.

When it's hot I have been known to put out block play instead.  We have some tree blocks (similar here) but be warned, they make much more mess than regular blocks!

10.  Painting

I usually only set up our easel when we have younger cousins or friends to visit.  I put a low table next to it with paints, sponges, trays, brushes, sticks and rubber bands for making nature brushes.

11.  Nature study

Just inside the door I sometimes put a bowl with basic nature study tools such as a microscope, motion camera, guide books and a bug box.

We have a terrarium inside for little critters like snails that the kids find in the yard.

Shelley is a guts

Plus... our yard also has some permanent features:

• a cubby with a rope ladder
• a tree to climb
• a trampoline
• bikes
• a box of sports equipment
• a box of loose parts (like tarps, sheets, ropes, pulleys, tubes...)
• a hanging xylophone
• an insect hotel
• logs and stumps
• our 'corner office'.

And of course we have fruits, veggies and herbs that my youngest son loves to tend and eat.

The best thing about these 11 backyard stations is our increased connection with the natural world and with the elements of earth, fire, water and fresh air!

I'd love to know what you do outdoors.  Please tell us in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by.  Looking for more outdoor ideas?  Try these:

• Epic Kids' Outdoor Bucket List (100 Things!)
• Nature Study Backpacks + Tassie Nature Apps
• Quest for the Best Birdfeeder
• Easy, Cheap and Fun Way to Learn to Tell the Time 

New to the Afterschooling Blog?  Try my A-Z of Afterschooling!

x x Zoe

NEW Game: Waters Edge

This is the first post in a series of game reviews, for those people who love 'gameschooling'.

If you're looking for a gift for someone special, one of these games may be the perfect thing.

In each post I'll review a game, give you the pro's and con's, and tell you who will benefit most from the game.

Waters Edge

We were lucky enough to get our hands on an advance copy of Waters Edge, a new game that's just launched.  You can pre-order a copy here.

We're not affiliated with Waters Edge, this is our honest opinion after playing the game.

This crowd-funded game is made by Scottish artist Catherine Redgate.  It's based on a cottage fishing industry, although you don't need to be fishing-mad to enjoy it.

After playing this game we had some great discussions about systems (inputs, processes, outputs) and sustainability (Australian Curriculum).

Pros

This game is complicated enough to engage adults and older children.

The artwork is simply stunning.

Although there is luck involved, it also requires some skill, which is a pro in my book.

Because there are a lot of cards, the game is quite different to play each time, depending on which cards come up most.

The playing time for us has been in the 25-40 minute range, which is perfect for a quick after-dinner round.  The playing time is determined by the 'time of day' and 'day of the week' cards.

The way the game operates - building up the lighthouse and shops, shifting fish between your boats, ice house and village - is really unique and fun.

It has a quaint, old-fashioned feel:  A throw-back to seaside communities of yore.

The cards and instructions are high quality and easy to follow.

It's made in Scotland but suits a global audience.

Cons

It's too complicated for early learners.

This game would lend itself really well to team play and it's a shame that's not how it's intended to be played.

Who this game is for

This game is perfect for fans of card games that involve an element of luck but also some decision-making.

As yet, we haven't had ANY sibling squabbles over this game.  ZERO!

We tend to have a problem in our house with games of pure strategy... After a certain point there is a bathetic descent, because certain people can't blame bad/good luck for losing/winning!

So if pure strategy games are a combat sport in your house, Waters Edge is for you.

There's a certain amount of decision-making about when to move fish and which cards to play, so you do get to exercise your grey matter, but there's enough luck involved to keep things light-hearted.

Waters Edge celebrates something that transcends ages and cultures:  The act of procuring food from the sea.

What are your recommendations for games?  We'd love to know in the comments.  

Thanks for your time.  Stay tuned for our next game review: The Ancient Egyptian Game of Senet.  In the meantime, try this post with our favourite maths games:  10 Maths Games You Don't Want To Miss.

x x Zoe

"This Is WAY Better Than Flashcards!"

Disclaimer:  This site contains affiliate links.  I receive a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Following are a few hands-on ideas for exploring the Ancient World, and a revision activity which is, in my son's words, WAY more fun than flashcards.

We used it for language learning, but you could use it for any rote facts, like times tables or spelling words, and your children will be begging to learn!

The hands-on activities at the end of the post will have your kids hooked on Ancient History.

My youngest son Roo has been re-reading the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan and that sparked an interest in learning Greek.

Did you know the Ancient Greeks and Romans used slingshots as weapons, and they sometimes wrote sarcastic insults on their lead shot?  "For Pompey's backside!"

I surprised Roo with the gift of this slingshot and some small rocks the perfect size to use in it.

He was so excited when I gave it to him, and he loved the idea of writing Greek revision phrases on the rocks.

We wrote some general revision, but of course we also had to write some insults (Roo convinced me it's a great way to practice animal words).  We've been using My First Book of Greek Words.  

He insisted on trying it out straight away, even though it was super dark out!

Don't you love that this idea takes a weapon and turns it into a tool for learning??

You could write anything on the rocks; times tables, spelling, formulae...  Practise each one before you shoot and again when you collect your shot.

The slingshot gift was a hook to get him interested in exploring the Ancient World.

I often use this simple afterschooling formula: A hook, a field trip and a hands-on activity.  (Here are some other examples of that formula in action.)

For our field trip we went to the John Elliott Classics Museum and got to see real Roman slingshots, as well as lots of other fascinating artefacts.

Hands-on activities:

We wrote spelling words on real papyrus using a traditional bamboo reed pen, and compared it with using a quill.

We used some homemade Roman numeral coins to do some maths.  (Email me through the address in my profile if you want some made for you.)

We also re-watched The Story of 1 about the ancient history of mathematics...

... and we played petteia, an ancient game of pure strategy.  I made a petteia board (download here on TPT) with useful Modern Greek words for revision.  You could also draw your own board.  Check out more info about the history of the game and how to play here.  In my version, players read the word or phrase aloud and translate it into English as they move onto it.  This game really taxes the grey matter!

Next we wove laurel leaf crowns like Apollo's... Toga party anyone?  I bought some florist wire (similar here) and the boys used sprigs of our own bay laurel.

And finally we cooked Greek pita bread on our campfire.  I think this is the same grill we have and love.  The recipe we use isn't super authentic because it's a yeast-free version: Roughly 4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 100g butter and 375mL milk with some olive oil.

I also got the boys to read an article from Historicool magazine and do some written work from the teacher resources.

Now we're reading Horrible Histories The Groovy Greeks and The Rotten Romans.  I adore that series.

My aim with these activities was to promote interest so my kids would be more engaged when they got to this topic in Year 7 (Australian Curriculum, The Mediterranean World).

Next I want to touch on Ancient China... We've started by watching this hilarious rap battle between Ancient China and Ancient Greece from the Horrible Histories TV show:

Here's Roo hitting the books with renewed vigour to learn Greek:

Over to you.  Do you know any fun activities that make revision a bit more exciting?  What about resources for learning about the Ancient World?  Please share with us in the comments below!  Thank you :-)

If you liked these ideas, please share my blog on Facebook or Twitter using the buttons below.  Post coming soon: The Grossest Revision Game Ever!  New to the Afterschooling Blog?  Try our A-Z of Afterschooling.

Here are some more hands-on ideas for activities:

• Sweet and Fat: 4 Easy Inquiries You Can Do At Home
• Quest for the Best Birdfeeder
• Cactus Invitation To Play

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO REBECCA, WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO GET BACK INTO BLOGGING!  Thanks, Beck.

x x Zoe