In Scotland, dull foggy days are part of the autumn season. Gloomy fog bound days seem to prevent outdoor play rather then inspire staff to go outside. This article aims to share some exciting opportunities for that foggy day.

There are two elements to outdoor play, the landscape with the stimulus it offers and the opportunities that are encouraged within it. These ideas are for opportunities that have come from children and may develop along many Possible Lines Of Development (PLODs). There are designed to support the We-Go Resource System.

Mathematics

• Resources - Lanterns with remote switches to go in the bag system. Set the lanterns out across the area, walk around switching the lamps on and off. The remote can be used to switch the lantern off a number of times, or a set number of times but for different durations.
• Ideas to explore - Number of flashes of light, using a stop watch to measure the length of flash.
• PLOD - Extend the links between indoors and out by making a secret code up for number of flashes e.g. 3 means sit down, 2 means run.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

• Resources - Variety of torches, (dynamo, battery, long beam, short beam). Reflexite strip, small plastic mirrors, high visibility strips of fabric to attach to objects in the outside area. Use the torches to try to spot the Reflexite?
• Ideas to explore - Some objects reflect light. These are used in high visibility clothing.
• PLOD - Extend through exploration of the clothing used by ambulance, police, roadside recovery etc

Physical Development and Movement

• Resources - Reflexite? strips, reflectors to attach to the vehicles. Torches /bike lamps to put onto the vehicles.
• Ideas to explore - Objects reflect light. Develop safety skills and use of high visibility materials and light to make the area safe.
• PLOD - Extend the roadway/airport system through the use of bike spoke reflectors as pretend "cats eyes".

Creative and Aesthetic

• Resources - Pale luminous paint to use on varnished wooden slices/sheets of Perspex to make mysterious paintings that can only be seen in the dark /dull weather with a torch.
• Ideas to explore - Some colours are easier to see than others. .
• PLOD - Create a transient art bag with luminous shapes, small black wooden boards, and small torch so that they can make pictures glow in the fog/dark.

Communication and language

• Resources - Laminated paper and chino graph pencils (since the atmosphere will be damp). On a foggy day the talk could focus on why the air is full of moisture.
• Ideas to explore - Writing as a form of communication.
• PLOD - Extend the experience through warning messages, role-play at the bike area, warning signs.

Emotional, personal and social

• Resources - Caring for each other through warning, calling sounds and light. Such as fog horns/rotating light, warning bells/belisha beacon to cross the roadway.
• Ideas to explore - Feeling of helping each other and warning each other of danger.
• PLOD - Extend the opportunities through listening to children's ideas for organising area and using protective clothing etc in all areas.