This document discusses natural flow learning, which structures learning activities around the natural cycles of imagination, inspiration, focus, relaxation, celebration, reflection and integration. It describes how Jon Young adapted Cornell's flow learning model to incorporate the qualities of the eight directions. Learning activities are planned to move through stages of inspiration, focus, relaxation, celebration, reflection and ending with integration. Incorporating these natural cycles and balances is suggested as a way to help children grow up healthy and balanced.

1. Natural Cycles and Flow Learning
A6er Cornell (1978)
and
Haas, McGoven and Young 2010
www.wholeland.org.uk

3. Hopefully this presentaHon is
simply reminding you of some
things you naturally know
already…
but might not quite have pieced all
together unHl now.

4. DirecHons
N
NE
E
SE
S
NW
W
SW

6. Times of day
N
NE
E
SE
S
NW
W
SW
Predawn
Sunrise
Mid morning
Noon
A3ernoon
Sunset
Evening
Midnight

7. Times of Year
Late winter
Spring
Late spring
Summer
Late summer
Autumn
Late autumn
Winter

9. CelHc FesHvals
Imbolc
Equinox
and Easter
Beltaine
Summer
SolsBce
Lammas/Harvest
Equinox
Samhain
Winter
SolsBce

11. Life cycle of a plant
GerminaBon
Rapid External Growth
Flowering
Internal Growth
FruiBng
Decay
Energy into roots
Seeds &
dormancy
SprouBng

13. Human Life cycle
Death/
ConcepBon
Birth
Childhood
Adolescence
Early Adulthood
Adulthood
Late Adulthood
Elderhood

14. So what are the qualiHes of the
direcHons?
And how could this relate to
learning?

15. And what has this landmark got to
do with it all?

16. Flow learning – a6er J Cornell
Awaken Enthusiasm
playful, energeBc
Focus
AOenBon
hard work
Direct
experience,
calming, centred
Sharing, reflecBon, integraBon

23. So, puWng together the natural
cycles and flow learning… what
have we got?
Enter Jon Young and his
8 shields crew

24. Energy Flow
QualiHes of the 8 direcHons
ImaginaBon
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Focus &
PerspiraBon
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
CelebraBon
and Harvest
DecomposiBon,
ReflecBon
LeQng go
DisBllaBon and IntegraBon
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon

25. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
Open, Circle up, give
thanks.

27. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
Open, Circle up, give
thanks.

30. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
Open, Circle up, give
thanks.

32. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings

34. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings

38. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings

40. InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ReflecBon, review
Gather to share the story of
the day. Highs & lows,
The grief or the anger
magic or wonder moments,
What can we learn from this?
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings

42. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ReflecBon, review
Gather to share the story of
the day. Highs and lows /
magic / wonder moments
DisBllaBon & IntegraBon
Give them a short story to
end on / quesHon / secret
mission to take home
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings

44. Flow learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ReflecBon, review
Gather to share the story of
the day. Highs and lows /
magic / wonder moments
DisBllaBon & IntegraBon
Give them a short story to
end on / quesHon / secret
mission to take home
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
give thanks to people and
place
song, quote, gi6s

46. Natural Flow
learning
a6er Young et al
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ReflecBon, review
Gather to share the story of
the day. Highs and lows /
magic / wonder moments
DisBllaBon & IntegraBon
Give them a short story to
end on / quesHon / secret
mission to take home
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
give thanks to people and
place
song, quote, gi6s
Chris Holland – www.wholeland.org.uk nature connection, creative outdoor learning, storyteller, trainer, thedidgeridooman.co.uk!

47. So how can all this help you find
balance in your lesson or learning
programme?
You can ask:

48. Do I have all these
elements in my
programme?
InspiraBon &
Excitement
Story on theme
of day
OrientaBon &
MoBvaBon
Give crisp instrucHons
and clear boundaries
Do we feel safe doing
this acHvity?
PerspiraBon & Focus
The ‘meat’ of the day –
do the acHvity / task
RelaxaBon
InternalisaBon
Take a break,
Snack, water,
sitspot
CelebraBon & Harvest
Share / show outcome
of focus from earlier,
celebrate achievements
ReflecBon, review
Gather to share the story of
the day. Highs and lows /
grief/ anger, magic / wonder
moments
DisBllaBon & IntegraBon
Give them a short story to
end on / quesHon / secret
mission to take home
ImaginaBon
Ends & beginnings
give thanks to people and
place, song, quote, gi6s
Chris Holland – www.wholeland.org.uk nature connection, creative outdoor learning, storyteller, trainer, thedidgeridooman.co.uk!

49. How can this help children to grow up as healthy
and balanced ‘nature ninjas?’

50. Indicators of an aware,
happy, balanced child.
Gilbert Walking Bull
welcoming and
including, innocence
common sense,
happiness,
emoBonally fluid
aliveness, agility
shows enthusiasm,
moBvaBon,
playfulness, vitality,
spirit of wildness
focused aOenBve,
inquisiBve,
perseverance,
punctuality, keeps
agreements, shows
mentoring qualiBes
caring & tending to self,
others and nature, shows
empathy - knows when to
take a break, re-fuel,
uncondiBonal love
celebrates gi3s in self
others,
supporBveness,
helpful, contributes
to communitys
reflecBve, a sense of place,
respect/value of heritage,
tradiBons, elders
self sufficiency, ability to
transpose learning
learning, shows leadership
qualiBes
ability to have quiet mind
and be thankful of gi3s,
creaBve
N

52. Nature Based Leadership and
cultural regeneraHon
• The insights from the flow learning model and qualiHes of the
direcHons, along with observaHons from intact indigenous
cultures have been put together into Natural Leadership and
cultural regeneraHon models for teams, organizaHons and
businesses is applied and taught in many places around the
world.
• See more info at hcp://8shields.com/about/
or sign up to my mailing list for info on courses at
www.wholeland.org.uk

53. References
Wilderness Awareness School handout (Jul 2008)
Coyote’s Guide to ConnecHng with Nature
By Jon Young, Ellen Haas and Evan McGown (2008)
Sharing Nature with Children Joseph Cornell (1998)
www.wholeland.org.uk

55. Further info:
Buy My fab book! I love my world
click the book!

56. Further info:
on flow learning and nature based
leadership see Coyote’s guide,
come on an NCR weekend
or do the Art of mentoring
and, coming in 2017