Every year, all 1st-year students in kindergarten teacher education attend the Winter Course. Here they learn, among other things, about children's development, the adult role, winter clothing, and didactics. The course is also practically oriented, with students creating winter activities for the children. On the last day of the course, they receive visits from kindergartens.
Brilliant sunshine and soft snow made this year's Winter Course at Frøset farm a great experience for students, children, and teachers.
On the nature and outdoor life line, we go on many trips
First-year student Marthe Håbrekke was very satisfied with the course week.
- The Winter Course was an incredibly great week where we learned a lot through practical work. We prepared somewhat in advance, but also had to learn to work with what we got; that is, how the snow is. We built many exciting snow constructions and sledding hills, and it was very nice to get visits from several kindergartens on the last day!
Håbrekke is a student in the popular kindergarten teacher education line with an emphasis on nature and outdoor life. This is where you get the most outdoor days, and these students go on the most trips, both in the local area and on longer overnight trips. This makes the students feel especially closely connected, they believe. The study has many practical tasks and activities closely linked to life in kindergarten.
- Attending the nature and outdoor life line enriches the study a lot, and I feel I get a lot of extra concrete knowledge that I want to use in the profession. It's so nice that we are outside so much and connect nature and outdoor life to what we learn in other subjects, so we get a lot of good knowledge and good ideas for what we can do outside with children.
Want to take care of nature by giving knowledge and joy
- I thought the nature and outdoor life line sounded incredibly cool when I heard about it, I have always loved being outside. I myself went to a nature kindergarten when I was little and loved it. I want to give the children I will work with in the future the same joy of nature that I have received, says Erling Aasnes.
Aasnes is in the same class as Håbrekke. For him, the Winter Course has provided an extra bonus, the Sandnes man has slept in a tent at Frøset all week.
- I think it's fun to sleep outside in a tent, it's so nice to wake up outside in the fresh air. It's such a good feeling to wake up rested in a good and warm sleeping bag. I am very fond of outdoor life and gladly take the opportunities I can to be outside. When we were going to be outside for a whole week during the study, I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by not to sleep outside. It was fun to have a whole week where we have been outside almost all the time. I have learned a lot and been inspired by what I can do for the children in the future when I am a kindergarten teacher.
Aasnes has always loved nature, and he wants to inspire the children in kindergarten to share the joy of nature.
- Nature is an incredibly nice place to play and learn for children. There are incredibly great opportunities there, learning how we can best utilize what nature offers us, I think, is important for our profession. If we are to take care of nature in the future, I think it is important to give people from an early age a joy and understanding of nature. We can be a part of this in kindergarten.
- I fell in the forest and thought it was fun to do a somersault
The children from Nilsbyen outdoor kindergarten thought the day had been good, and the igloo was the most fun. But other things also caught on.
- It was fun that we got to come to you, they said eagerly.
- It was fun to play Daidalos and that I jumped, Aksel showed me that.
- I fell in the forest and thought it was fun to do a somersault, said another little skier, before they put on their skis and left the snow adventure at Frøset.