Documentation
“Land- and Sky-Scapes” -All photography on this page was shot by one of my students.
Awhile back I purchased a Nikon CoolPix with a protective silicone case so the kids could take their own photos and videos. It’s waterproof and drop-proof, and I attached a keychain to it so we can hook it to a belt loop or carabiner. This school year the kids love it so much we had to set a limit for us all, which is currently 35 photos and a total of 2 minutes of video (of a quality that won’t make me nauseous reviewing it) per day per person. The child who took these photos was so inspired by our natural environment that I gave them my allotment of photos on a couple days so they could document away to their heart’s content. They spend time going through the photos when we settle down for break times. Another child brings their own camera, and their parent often records their stories on an old-school tape recorder when they get home. Plus, I write the families an email and share photos in a folder each day so they have their own way to see what’s happening at Outside School.
If you’d like to read more about my documentation methods, please check out this article:
From Fear to Freedom: Risk and Learning in a Forest School in “Voices of Practitioners”
By Heather Taylor, teachoutside@gmail.com. You are welcome to share all materials with credit to her.