Nursery World - Air time

It's all around us, but how do children explore something as invisible as the air? The final part of our elements series offers ideas from Gail Ryder Richardson Air is an invisible force that has an unpredictable nature. In the eyes of young children it takes on an almost magical quality when it swirls autumn leaves, whips their hair around their faces, bends branches, lifts kites and flips umbrellas inside out.

Air is an invisible force that has an unpredictable nature. In the eyes of young children it takes on an almost magical quality when it swirls autumn leaves, whips their hair around their faces, bends branches, lifts kites and flips umbrellas inside out.

For children to become aware of the air around them they need to go outdoors and feel the air on their faces and bodies and discover for themselves what it can do. So how can they be given opportunities to investigate air and explore its mysterious properties?

With a bit of planning, a few simple resources, and plenty of enthusiasm, practitioners and children can go up, up, up and away on a windy day. Here are a few examples that show clearly how experiences with air and wind can children's progress towards the early learning goals.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included