Environment Centre, part 4

Our second program was Natural Weavings. Step one: harvest materials. As this step involved ripping things out of the ground, many of our boys were enthusiastic!

Next was the weaving. This step required patterning, sequencing, fine motor control, teamwork, communication, and perseverance. 

Some people were able to stick with it longer than others, but nevertheless the results were beautiful!

What an awesome learning experience! Ask your child to reflect on his or her favourite part. 

Environment Centre, part 3

Lunch was a picnic outside in the shade shelter. 

After finishing lunch, we had a recess of sorts on the grounds. 

After some exercise, Amanda read us the story of how the sun got in the sky. 

It was a rare "moment of Zen" during a very busy day!

Continued in part 4

Environmental Centre, part 2

Outside, we got warmed up for adventure with a rousing game of Mayfly Tag. The giant patch of poison ivy (guarded by volunteers) added to the element of excitement. 

Our morning adventure began with a hike over two boardwalks, through a cedar woods, through porcupine forest, up a hill and down a hill. 

We spilt into two groups, one in the meadow and another in the wetland. 

We found lots of gypsy moth caterpillars in the meadow and lots of mayfly larvae in the water. 

Continued in part 3!

Environmental Centre, part 1

What a perfect day for a trip to the Camp Kawartha Environmental Centre! We were there in February, and boy has the space changed. This time we came for a full day visit. 

Here we are getting organized- controlled chaos! Such excitement in the air. 

We started off with making some frog music and exploring the displays inside. 

This wall is made of concrete and recycled bottles and cans. 

Just before morning snack, we learned what Carl the Composter likes to eat for lunch. 

See the next post for our wetland adventure!

Outdoor Learning in the Playground

With the weather so fine these days, we've been focusing on skills that can be worked on outside. Outdoor play is wonderful for building foundational skills like co-operating, communicating, and socializing. It is also key to building a sense of self in the environment, exploring the world around us, and building muscle strength and coordination. Outside, children have the freedom to move their bodies, explore, pretend, observe, and play. 

Here are some snap shots from our outdoor program yesterday.

Chalk paint art.

The mama duck we are observing on her nest at the library.  

A giant game of reverse ring toss. 

The boat continues to develop dramatic play and imagination skills. 

Ethan can sum up our time outside:

Changes

We've been observing the late spring changes in our Green Classroom. 

Flowers are blooming, and the grass is long and lush. 

The evergreens are pushing out new growth. Charlie observed how soft the new growth is. 

The rhubarb is up, and nearly ready to eat!

There are lots of bugs, including this beauty. 

A swarm of tent caterpillars have moved in to the apple trees. We learned about invasives, and that they don't belong here. 

The dandelions are in full bloom too!

The school board gardeners were by the other day, and now our beds are ready for planting. What to plant?