outdoor classroom 10-23-17

The children, like scientists, began work in their field journals this week. Prior to spending the afternoon in our outdoor classroom, I introduced nature journals - each Kindergartener has their own nature journal to record their predictions, observations, and thinking. Their journals will also be a place for reflecting on our time in the woods.

Their first journal prompt;

I predict I will see __________________.

Some children chose to draw detailed images of trees, leaves, fairies, and sticks. Many of their illustrations included labels and words. TJ shared that he predicted he would see - and find - shapes in the woods. His prediction connected to our work with shapes in nature and the children's sun art from last week! On Tuesday morning, I will invite the Kindergarteners to reread their predictions from Monday and reflect on their time in our outdoor classroom - using a new page for their writing and drawing. My hope for their journals, is to offer the children another way to share their stories. To develop a deeper understanding of our woods and perhaps an even deeper love for our woods.

 

 

 


Rock art - using a natural canvas to practice lines and designs.

 

In the above picture, ZM spends the afternoon balanced on top of a large rock with a notepad nestled in her lap.

GK covers a rock in short lines - his design is a collection of zig zags.

KS shares at the end of our time in the woods. She explains the different kinds of lines she used to cover her rock - curvy and wavy lines surrounding a tiny heart in the middle.

 Kindergarteners collecting sticks and branches for fort building.

They each had a plan - a vision.

In search of the perfect sticks for their construction. 

We must provide opportunities for children to be inventive.

“This seems clear enough: When truly present in nature, 

we do use all our senses at the same time, 

which is the optimum state of learning.”

- Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods 

UPDATE from 10-28-17

Children reflect in their outdoor journals on Tuesday morning. TJ draws a picture of tiny seeds, using the title of a nonfiction text to write the word seeds. His sentence reads, I saw seeds.

A peer stretches out the word burdock. His detailed image shows the pointy edges, enabling the seed to travel as a 'hitchhiker'.