When you imagine a classroom, what do you see? Desks facing a board, kids doing worksheets, maybe a few laptopsB次元官网网址� Kindergarten teacher Nicole Haas sees it a little differently.
B次元官网网址淭he classroom is wherever we are. A lot of what we do is Inquiry Based B次元官网网址� kids drive what we do, and that includes taking learning outdoors.B次元官网网址�
Haas has been teaching an indoor/outdoor Kindergarten program at for two years, and taught outdoor afternoons with the Grade 3/4 class before that. Now sheB次元官网网址檚 developing resources to help teachers of older grades at LCA take advantage of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 forested property. Not only is outdoor learning helpful for slowing the spread of COVID-19, itB次元官网网址檚 also good for mental and physical health.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not as simple as B次元官网网址榣earning inside, play outside.B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e constantly adapting, and incorporating play-based learning into everything we do.B次元官网网址�
The natural world nurtures physical and mental health
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been encouraged by new research about the Japanese concept of B次元官网网址榝orest bathingB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榝orest therapy,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says LCA principal Karen Daniels. B次元官网网址淚ncorporating outdoor learning into all our classes is important for physical safety due to COVID-19, and also for mental health. Stepping into our forest allows staff and students to decompress B次元官网网址� all of the things that are difficult can melt away.B次元官网网址�
Haas knows takes a lot of adjustment, so she focuses a lot on social and emotional learning at the beginning of the year.
B次元官网网址淲e build up self-regulation strategies so students can figure out from a young age what they want to be working on and how they can do that appropriately, no matter where we are.B次元官网网址�
Students learn to notice the weather, and consider how it will make them feel. They get better at putting rain gear on and off so theyB次元官网网址檙e able to transition in and out through the day. They learn to make choices, take risks and work with others. Through it all Haas underlines little lessons B次元官网网址� sometimes as a group and sometimes one-on-one B次元官网网址� to help everyone succeed.
B次元官网网址淧lay is so valuable, and necessary in a childB次元官网网址檚 development. If a kid needs a bit of a nudge, give them a challenge: what lives under the soil? LetB次元官网网址檚 go down to the creek and see what floats and what sinks. Can we tell a story with these rocks?B次元官网网址�
All LCA classes use a mixture of free play, structured play, child-led and adult-led learning. Even in older grades, instilling curiosity and creativity helps improve engagement and knowledge-retention. Incorporating the forest and creek on the LCA grounds into daily science, math, arts, history and social lessons is part of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 innovative, child-first approach.
Learn more about enrolling for September 2021 at , then book a tour by emailing info@lcawestshore.com or calling 250-474-5311. Follow the school on and for the latest updates!
