Samantha Millar’s article takes on a story-like tone. Embark on a magical, yet real journey with her Year 1 students on their weekly outdoor walk program, Dhumba-dha biik. Visit the swan family by the lake, Samantha’s favourite tree – a huge eucalypt that is filled with a variety of wildlife and reminds the children of Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree – feel the texture of the trees, the stickiness of the sap and show appreciation for this beautiful land.
Children have a natural affinity with their world and there is just so much that they want to know and discover. Outdoors, the environment is the second teacher and it is a powerful and engaging one.
This is a wild space; a space for imagination, for testing character and for learning. There are dens to be built, games to be played, problems to be solved, discussions to be had, resilience to be developed, questions to be asked and discoveries to be made. It is child-directed learning that covers much of the curriculum that as teachers we are mandated to teach.
