Unique Outdoor DOE book for grade 6 students
Learning, playing and discovering in and from the world around you. That is the approach of the Nature, Environment and Citizenship curriculum in Zoetermeer. By being actively involved outdoors, children work on their research, math and language skills in a playful way. "This way you kill a thousand birds with one stone," said Education alderman Marijke van der Meer. She handed out the first Buiten DOE books for explorers from Zoetermeer to the group-6 pupils of elementary school De Vijverburgh on Wednesday morning, September 11.
All 1768 grade 6 students in Zoetermeer will receive the DOEbook for the first time this year. Fifteen grade 6 groups will start working directly with the curriculum during the Nature, Environment and Citizenship Theme Week from September 16 through September 20.
The book is packed with facts, tips, interviews, puzzles and 'challenges' to check off. Completely focused on the experiences of children and the environment in and around Zoetermeer. Sixth graders are challenged to leave their computer screens behind and go outside in the old-fashioned way. Local themes are addressed, such as the history of the city, local plants and animals, nature reserves, healthy and local food, waste and raw materials, and how to use rainwater and tap water.
The DOE book also includes a removable map of the city with places to visit and discover. In addition to all the parks and outdoor areas, play and city farms and neighborhood and community gardens, the map includes, for example, water taps and natural playgrounds. In parallel that the students receive the DOE book to take home, the teachers receive a lesson folder with inspiration, to give the DOE book a place in the lesson. In these lessons, basic subjects such as language and math are deliberately combined with nature education. For example, how do you calculate how tall the tree in the schoolyard is?
Alderman Van der Meer hopes that the curriculum may prompt schools to get students moving more and actively engaged with their (natural) environment. "Playing outside is not only fun, but also incredibly educational. With being active outside, you practice physical and mental skills that you don't practice if you sit behind a screen all day. Students can be surprised by all the things they can discover and do close to home."
This teaching program is an initiative of the Zoetermeer municipality, funded by the National Education Program (NPO). The program is designed to make up for educational disadvantages that arose during the Corona pandemic. During this period, children got outside less and learned mainly from screens.
