Deep Thinking

Some weeks you do a lot of deep thinking. And, this week was one of them. As a team we had lots of conversation about our programming, reflections and questions. We also discussed some key points with our parents at our second parent evening. Each conversation brought new insights- but wow, the work is hard. We are still figuring out our whole documentation process– when to document, what to document and how to document. We have many ideas- and I mean many! But of course, we cannot possibly implement them all so we kept returning to our core values to let them guide our practice. The week ended with some clarity and direction which we are all feeling quite positive about in terms of moving forward. This work we do, teaching young children, is so amazing. The bumps, the intellectual conflicts within our own minds, the ‘not knowing’, the confusion, is all wonderful– truly. It is only from these experiences that we come out on the other end with understanding, resolution and the commitment to an authentic practice. We also know that in about another week or so, the cycle may start all over again!

Here is a glance of our week. There were many other beautiful moments including two volunteers from McMath Secondary that helped on their pro- d day. One volunteer was a preschooler of mine many moons ago and both of them had been big buddies at my previous school. It was rewarding and heart warming to see them in this new capacity. Look for some photos and comments from Heidi; you will notice Vanessa in the photos, our practicum student, who is working ever so hard!

Listening to Heidi tell us about how to play our icebreaker game. parents are open to a new experience. It can be hard to jump into a group but games such as these help to alleviate shyness and make everyone feel welcome.

Ross shares his drawing with the group. Parents go out on a limb, telling us about things that have a lot of emotional meaning to them. Thanks for sharing!

LOVE this lego structure that Nikolas built. He is showing me the different design features and then exclaims “This is the compost.” Nature School kids know about compost!! Awesome!

Haymie, Anna-Sophia and Thomas hide during a game of Eagle. This is the first time we introduced this game to this group of children and they are enjoying it! It seems they are ready for games with rules, a whole new stage of development.

The Owls gather around to talk about our next activity. This simple act of making a circle, holding hands with the person beside us, requires a lot of skills- social, listening and body control.

Kate invites children to measure the circumference of the tree with their bodies. Will this form of measurement be used again by the children in the next coming weeks?

I forget to bring paint brushes for these water colours and we are far from the Cottage so… finger painting it is!

A request by the majority of the Eagle children to take a class photo on this sculpture.

Nicole notices the leaves on the buttercups. She tells me “They are beautiful.”

The Eagles are ‘journaling’- they are documenting their observations about the flowers and plants growing in the garden beds. Some children have very astute observations but are not yet able to visually depict their findings. Others draw with more realism but are basing it more on what they believe they know rather than what they see. it is interesting watching the different ways of working.

Clayten makes a home for an animal. He is so caring and kind to the creatures on the land.

Making a tent with the small group. (Heidi)

Running and hiding in the tall plants (Heidi)

Sophia was determined to catch a butterfly, she tried both chasing and stalking. (Heidi)

Aidan is stock piling rocks for a project. The others are all very engrossed in their individual activities.

Ella is experimenting with wool and embroidery threads. Is she interested more in colour, texture or the thickness vs thinness of the material?

Owen and Clayten wonder what happened to the dead snake that was found the week before; they decide to find it! They notice it has changed, and that it smells.(Heidi)

Finn uses the strength of his full body to pull a large branch.(Heidi)

A moment of quiet as Katie weaves on her cats eye.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Power in Numbers

As I look through the photographs from this past week, I am moved by the amount of teamwork that occurred. Each day brought new groupings of children; children that had not previously played together found themselves working towards a common goal. It is always an exciting time of year as we see the children begin to engage in cooperative play. Play takes on new meanings and reaches new levels, building new thought processes and connections. Children influence each other’s schemas- sometimes in small ways, sometimes in very large ways.

Think about your own lives and the people who make up your ‘team’. How did you become a member of this team? What is your role on this team? How does your role constantly shift and change? Are you open to letting others influence you? Do you influence others? Perhaps some days it is hard to be on the team but hopefully most days it is easy, enlightening and fun!

Watching mason bees fly in and out of their nesting tubes. Children are captivated by these darling insects. They are very happy to learn that these bees do not sting!

Learning how to attend to a task is not easy. It has taken months of practice and maturity to come to a point where we can all engage in a meaningful conversation, without distraction. There is value in being able to listen attentively and keep our bodies still.

Adam, Alison and Kingston are serving up some delicious treats in their restaurant. Heidi helps to keep the play going by participating in their imaginary game, asking questions and allowing time for the play to develop.

Everyone is busy collecting pieces for their own project. There were some tough negotiations, angry voices and tears as well as generous sharing and kind words. The play soon shifts and suddenly the children come to realize it is better to pool their resources.

Miles, Hannah and Damian work together to push this log. There seems to be no particular goal in terms of placement; only that it is fun to push something heavy and no one could manage it alone.

This small group experiments with tubes and tunnels. For a while they build independently but soon children are working together to attach pieces and pour rocks using a funnel.

The children learn quickly that is speeds things up in the hand washing procedure if they help each other hold the tap down, get soap and push the dryer button.

Hannah and Kaya work on their own projects but together they formed the idea of creating this type of art.

Investigating the clover patch, the buddies spend a moment together observing the colour and texture.

These buddies are investigating how garlic grows.

Our Thompson Elementary School buddies were a wonderful addition to our week! We cannot post the many photos taken but when looking through them, again I was amazed at how far our children have come in their ability to work with others. The big buddies had been to the farm last week, participating in a program with the Richmond Schoolyard Society. They learned about mason bees, which is exactly what our Nature School students learned this week too. So, together, they shared their knowledge- big kids teaching little kids and little kids teaching big kids. They observed together, wrote journals, played games and did a cool mason bee art project. It was a lovely day!

Claire sketches what she sees in the garden. She is developing her observation skills, refining her fine motor skills and making connections.

Big buddies help little buddies write their initials and names using sticks.

These two are pretending to be a pollen and nectar ball inside the mason bee tube. The game is a race- the female bee must collect nectar, pollen and mud to fill her tube as fast as she can.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Spring Renewal

Spring Break was much needed indeed. But, after two weeks, school was needed! Upon our return, teachers and children alike found themselves rejuvenated and more than ready to return to our special land and our school community. It was apparent the children missed seeing each other. This week was filled with stories, hugs, hand holding and snuggling together. It was warming to re-affirm our connections and know they run deep. We also noticed that many children experienced a noticeable growth spurt, both physically and emotionally; torsos longer, limbs stretched, lengthened faces and slimmer fingers. Attitudes more confident, voices stronger, ideas shared with greater ease and friendships more secure. Truly, these changes are beautiful to witness.

A long awaited reunion as Damon was away for a long time. His return opened the door for learning about friendship. How can we be friends with many people at the same time? Feelings about relationships are complicated- these three children are learning how to negotiate these feelings.

Andy reaches out his hand to help Hannah who feels she is stuck in the puddle. Andy is being patient as Hannah takes time to decide whether she wants his help. I wonder what makes her hesitate?

Once out of the mud puddle, Andy and Hannah walk along the path towards the other children. Clearly in no rush to catch up, they have a moment of closeness. These two have been working together quite a bit in a small group. I am curious to know how much this work has influenced their relationship.

The new wagon is a serious wagon! Despite its heaviness, Amelia and Anna-Sophia show determination in pulling it towards our destination.

Fallen flowers invite us to smell and touch the beautiful petals. Nicole and Damon share their adoration with each other, investigating their flowers together. Rylan, in the background, finds a daffodil on the ground and carries it all morning.

Jasmine and Ella are re-connecting after playing together earlier in the week. Feeling shy, I encourage them to take each other’s hand for the walk. This moment grounds them and they play together for a long time. If I had not invited this moment, would they have played together anyway?

Olina solicits Valarie’s help to push Nathan on the swing. Many giggles and knock downs prevail-such fun! Isn’t it lovely when children help other children accomplish a task?

With Kate’s gentle direction, the group learns how to spread the tarp themselves, pulling it taut so the wrinkles disappear. The simple act of laying the tarp allows for great learning in terms of team work and motor skills.

After Kaya tumbles over, both Miles and Ty quickly check in with her to make sure she is ok. Their awareness of their friend’s needs is remarkable. They both know how to gently approach Kaya based on months of being friends together. I love these caring moments!

Curious about… the water, the depth of the water, the stick that floats, what lives in the water, the ‘mud’ on the bottom ( which some thought was bird poo and some coyote poo). A perfect moment to slow down and let questions form in their minds.

Clayten looks closely at a ladybug, appreciating her beauty. He is very in tune with the world around him, noticing things big and ever so small. What is it that fascinates Clayten so much-the way she moves, her colouring, where she came from or where she is going?

Sophia, beside Clayten, finds a ladybug as well. She, too, is completely captivated by the animal world.

Learning about plants on the land is an important part of our curriculum. The children are learning about stinging nettle- how to identify it, what effect it can have on our skin and how to use it properly.

How can I walk through plants without disturbing them? How do they feel against my body? What sounds do they make? Can I smell them? How did they grow so big? What are these plants? Maybe these are some questions Rylan is asking herself as she explores this area.

Returning from a long trip in an urban setting, Damon is enjoying touching the soil. Did he think about the farm when he was away?

Finn is creating art using a combination of materials.Often adding one new material can incite an entirely new direction of play.

Always expect the unexpected when working with children! Many of the children are showing an interest in shapes so we bring these blocks and sticks to use for creating shapes in the gravel. Ryan, however, discovers they are very good for making sound and uses the materials to create a drum. He plays ‘drum’ for a long time.

Miles and Nell draw shapes in the gravel; it is important for us teachers to not jump into ‘teaching’ shapes and let the children’s natural interest and knowledge lead to the next learning piece.

Olina and Claire discover they can make ‘paint’ by shaving the sidewalk chalk and mixing it with liquid. At first, they used their saliva. Our practicum student, Vanessa, then offers them water instead. They choose to do their work underneath a picnic table. Amazing work!

Olina gets the idea to step in the paint and make a print of her boot. Has she done this before?

I show the children how to make natural dyes using red cabbage, onion skins, turmeric and coffee.

Vanessa helps Mason and Ella dye their eggs.

Andy and Nathan needed more space to play so I invite them to bring the tree house and cars outside. Within a few minutes, two more children come out to play.

Hearing the excitement of fun play, other children want to come to the deck. Soon, there is a large gathering outside. It is a small space- will they all be able to move around each other and cooperate? Working together in small spaces teaches children how to move their bodies carefully, respect each other’s space and use their words to meet their needs.

Our ‘work’- sketching something from the garden.

Rylan decides to sketch the flowers she sees in the flower bed. What a detailed representation.

Adam is proudly perched on the tree as he used his arm muscles to pull up his body up.

Katie, William and Wyatt enjoy filling the eggs with various small objects. Will they hide these eggs for each other, creating a new game?

Kingston is looking closely- he is noticing the small hole and wonders why it is there.

“Snack Theatre”- Kate reads us a story during snack time.The children’s attention span is becoming longer and they are able to listen attentively to more complex stories.

‘Till the next post, Emily

Being Together

We love being together. Each and every day. This does not mean that it is always easy. In fact, it can be quite challenging. Getting along with others is hard work! It takes effort; patience, maturity, understanding, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, generosity,listening, talking, sharing. Each day when we come together at Nature School, we see children working hard to figure this all out. And, indeed, it is a lot to figure out.

We are enjoying observing the children utilizing their skills in these areas. I am always amazed at their maturity and intuition. We have seen so much social and emotional development in the past little while. Are children feeling more confident to express themselves now that they know each other and the expectations of school? Are they learning to ‘read’ their friends with a little more understanding? At what point does a child think about putting someone else’s needs ahead of their own?

When I look at these photographs I see this hard work coming to fruition. Children working at being friends, being a community of learners.Kate, Heidi, Tricia and I see children doing their work and we are so very proud of them for their efforts.

Tree climbing takes a lot of motor planning- figuring out foot and hand holds. Combine that we others climbing on the same branches and you have now have a very unique and wonderful learning experience. Nell looks like she is losing her balance and Kaya is looking at her. Kaya most likely wants to help her but perhaps she is feeling too unstable herself to offer a helping hand?

Heidi reflects: Louis and Ezra appear to continue their play from Tuesday. The boys take on the roles of “Batman (Louis) and Commissioner Gordon” (Ezra) in order “to save Elsa.” Ezra informs me that, “Commissioner Gordon tells Batman what he has to do.” Knowing that both boys love Batman, I wonder how they negotiated, not only to continue to the game from Tuesday, but their roles? Does the space in some way inspire this particular storyline?

Heidi notes: The children and teachers are working on boundaries together. Understanding when and where it is okay to go ahead, where to stop, and always to ensure that a teacher not only knows where you are, but has deemed it safe. The children seem to really enjoy going on adventures in the tall grass where invisible boundaries have to be set. How can we as teachers make invisible boundaries more clear to children and communicate with them in a way that they understand, a purpose for these boundaries?

Heidi observes: Clayton begins, “digging for crystals.” Aiden hovers around Clayton, he appears curious about what Clayton is doing. Clayton seems to notice this and invited Aiden to help him. The two boys do not communicate very much verbally during the play until Clayton spots a white rock. He holds it in his hand and holds it towards Aiden, “I found one!” Aiden looks and the boys continue to dig. What has inspired Clayton to begin digging for crystals and was Aiden inclined to join because of an interest in Clayton’s digging, the intention behind the digging, because of the invitation, or something altogether different?

Heidi observes: Ella W. comes alive as she notices all the colors on her hands, after doing chalk drawing. “I have rainbow hands,” she proclaims while holding out her palms to teachers and children. Did her excitement come from this discovery, or had something else in her day brought out this social and confident persona?

Heidi observes: As a result of Ella W.’s discovery, the children begin to intentionally create, “rainbow hands.” How much of what the children learn is from peer observation and interaction? How can we as teachers (and parents/guardians) help support this kind of collaborative relationship?

The excitement of Chinese New Year continued into the week. Ethan brought in his special Lion Head and performed a dance for his classmates. Most children wanted a turn being part of the lion’s tail. Ethan captured the Lions’ movements so well; he had gone to see the dance in Chinatown. How did he translate what he saw into his own body movement?

Olina sets the table and begins serving the noodles. Nathan, Miles, Ty and Ethan soon join her. They are using the chopsticks with dexterity. Olina uses her chopsticks to dish out noodles from the big bowl into the small bowl. Did she learn this at home? I wonder if we should cook noodles this week and invite the children to use chopsticks?

It takes a lot of collaboration to build Clayten’s “Time Machine”. Thomas, Ezra and Kingston jump into this imaginary world. These boys are demonstrating the ability to play with each other in a mature way as they work together towards a common goal. I wonder if they are offered these materials again this week will they build on this idea? How can we support this creative play?

Nell picked up this long branch but it was too awkward to carry on her own so she solicited the help of her good friend Damian. They seem to enjoy the act of carrying it rather than needing to ‘do’ something with it. I love the freedom of this play. Typically we move things to achieve a result. How wonderful to move something just to move it.

It is hard to see in the picture but Nicole is in a cardboard box. She is snuggled in the box with various stuffed animals. We have observed that many children enjoy the feeling of containment.

Rylan is loving the imagination market station. Each day she gifts art work to a friend. Her enthusiasm is spreading- this station is getting a lot of use. Providing open-ended art materials allows for creative expression and practice with fine motor skills.

Very focused on their work, Dimitri, Miles and Claire work alongside each other, taking turns with the supplies and tools. Each child is creating their own design- do they start with the end in mind or do they simply experiment and then find themselves at the next step?

Each child is approaching this art in a different way. Ty seems to be exploring abstract design and then groupings of colour. Even though it isn’t a recognizable drawing, does he have a story? Tia is drawing people (bottom left) and using large swishes of colours as background. What is her story?

As an educator, you always try to open the door for learning opportunities. The simple act of laying out pastels requires thought; offering enough to avoid frustration but also limiting the quantity so sharing must take place.

What is Claire pointing out to Rylan? Sharing information with others is so natural. Instinctually we like to share what we observe around us, whether it is a thing of beauty or something that challenges or senses.

The children run, straddle, jump, and throw things into ditches. Ditches are clearly multi-dimensional! What is about them that is so interesting? Is it the change in landscape depth? The water? The mud? The idea of crossing over something without needing a bridge?

After an emotional moment, Ty lends a gentle hand to a good friend. Soothing Kaya by touching her back and trying to distract her by pointing out a bird, is one of the ways we see strong friendships and care within our class

‘Till the next post,

Emily

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Relationships

We invite you to look through these photos with a new lens. The photos are quite ordinary really but in each one you can see a relationship. Relationships are typically thought of as with people but here at Nature School we are also very interested in relationships with other things; so you will see some photos with people and others with ‘things’. Being an outdoor school we of course are vastly intrigued by children’s relationship with the natural world and a sense of place. But it goes further than that- what about relationships with things? How do our interactions with things affect us? How do we learn about something, whether it be something living ( like the children in the photo below gazing closely at the flower studying a bee) or something non-living, like blocks, balls and clay? Thinking about building relationships with everything we encounter is exciting! This concept opens up the door to many, many possibilities. We encourage you to reflect on your own relationships- with people, animals, nature, things- what do they bring to your life? What do you bring to their life? How can we add depth to these relationships? Because, in the end, it is really all about relationships.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Helping Hands

This week we observed:

children smiling at each other
children reaching out to lend a hand
big buddies caring for our preschoolers
children making cards for their families
a child losing a bean and another child giving them a bean from their own pod
children changing quickly and then helping those who still needed help getting their wet gear off
children taking turns with materials
a child teaching another child how to hold scissors
teachers helping each other be the best they can be
children working collaboratively on the bridge project
parents joining us for our first “knit night” to work on a blanket for the school

and so many more moments of gentle kindness and friendship.

Nicole and Kaya look at each other with warmth in their sparkling eyes.

Valarie and her big buddy hide during “Eagle”, a game similar to hide n’ seek. The buddies demonstrate patience as our preschoolers try to understand the rules.

Without saying a word, Olina and her buddy find a quiet spot. They were not found for quite a while.

Noticing the seasonal changes is important for us at Nature School. Concrete examples, such as the scarlet runner bean teepee, help to make these concepts clear.

These two fine young lads, Miles and Ty, spend time sharing ideas about the world. This conversation was about poo- yes, poo. Specifically, bird poo. It went on for no less than 10 minutes- “Is it from an owl, an eagle or a crow?” asked Miles. Ty thought he saw frog poo.

Max is well taken care of as his friends help him get up onto the log. How did this kind act make Max feel? How does it affect his relationship with these other children?

Valentine’s Day brought card making, patterning on felt hearts and making cream cheese and jam sandwiches.

William waits patiently for his bowl of cream cheese while Wyatt begins the tricky task of spreading the cheese without ripping the bread. Will these boys want to make sandwiches when they go home? What other things can we spread?

Ezra and Mason are hard at work and is Ezra tasting something?

Joel spends time choosing buttons and making a design. Some children instinctually arrange the buttons close to the edge. Is Joel mimicking the heart shape or is he creating an abstract design in the centre?

Ella and Jasmine are concentrating and although they are beside each other, no words are spoken. There is time for play and time for work and this is a time for work!

The family Valentine card is something we want all children to make. Thomas chooses red from a large variety of colours. How is it that children learn ‘norms’ so quickly? Through observation, children learn about the world around them. Did he transfer his knowledge from other Valentine activities or things he has seen in the past to this project?

Revisiting the Blind Fold game, Rylan leads Ryan around the Healing Garden. This time rather than using our voices, children choose an instrument as a guide. This activity builds trust in others and self-confidence as well as increasing senses like hearing, touch and smell.

Kate does a great job organizing our first Knit Night. Mothers, Grandmothers and friends gather around, needles and wool in hand, to begin our community blanket.

Ella uses her feet to make patterns and drawings in the gravel. Tricia asks her questions about her work, encouraging her to build upon what is already there.

Watching the rings swirl in the puddle, these children are learning about how water moves. Maybe we should go look at the waves in the river?

Katie engages in pretend play with our open ended castle pieces. Pieces that can be manipulated and changed by the children lead to creative and inspired play.

Food is being served at this house and how magical- children use corks to create stews, ice cream and other edible treats.

Max is slightly hesitant about going down the slide by himself. He asks Heidi for some support which she happily provides. After several turns, Max gains confidence and is seen here going down for about his 20th time!

Tia finds the perfect fishing rod. What is she thinking as she casts her rod into the water. Does she imagine a fish in her own mind? Is she creating an entirely different story?

‘Till the next post,

Emily

New Groupings

William and Jack transport the outdoor blocks from the south end to the north end of the farm. They work hard to balance the wheelbarrows and negotiate the bumpy pathways.

We had a very fun week, filled with some new discoveries and nuances. After our staff meeting last week, we decided to break out into smaller groups several times per week. Each group explored areas and topics that were of interest to them and important for their stage of development. Throughout the week, each group of children had many opportunities to work together in small groups to build relationships amongst themselves, work collaboratively on projects and hear new perspectives. Dividing into smaller groups was very informative for us and we watched in awe as children challenged themselves in novel ways. New friendships were formed and interestingly, these friendships then carried over when we got together as a whole group.

Happy to help out, Ty proudly pushes a “big load”.

The Eagles put in a team effort to move the blocks. This task was a big learning experience. How can we all work together? What if someone takes the piece I want to carry? How long until I can use the wheelbarrow? This block is heavier than I thought. It is hard to carry a block with someone- we have to walk at the same pace. A simple activity with HUGE learning outcomes.

The Owls did their fair share of the load in the afternoon. Here we see the group trying to figure out how to place the larger blocks so they can fit on the wagon– math and physics!

Nikolas is sketching a tree. He pays great attention to detail., trying to capture the line variations in the bark. Valarie and Ryan compliment him on his drawing.

This small group works on their tree inquiry, using clay to represent trees. Working outside presented new challenges, with a slight mist in the air wetting the clay. The children also bring the clay to the tree trunks and start to make imprints of the bark.

For something different, we all work with clay at the same time, each child making their own tree based on observations, photographs, and field guides. Children are encouraged to use their experiences to share their knowledge of trees.

We investigate different types of trees. This tree has “spiky things” according to Kingston. Children are looking closely at the different attributes of trees from trunks to leaf structure to buds.

Kate gently supports Sophia and Anna as they tread gingerly across the planks. Anna is instinctually using her arms and hands to increase her balance.

Carefully balancing on the bridge, Alex tests his equilibrium.

Aiden enjoys a playful moment amongst the grasses. Is he pretending something? Is he simply enjoying the feeling of being protected by the natural elements around him? Is someone else stalking him in a game of hide n’ seek?

Running through tall grass is truly a joy of childhood as seen by Finn’s facial expression. There is a sense of secrecy and the unknown.

Cyrus, hair wet and tousled from the rain, enjoys coming inside to the cozy cottage to experiment with patterns on the peg board.

Heidi works with her small group in the Studio as a continuation from their work outside. They are telling a story; learning about characters, setting and dialogue.

Haymie and Mason hold hands- at what point in a relationship do we feel it is safe to hold hands with another? It is such a gentle and comforting gesture, isn’t it?

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Gifts

It was a special week here at Nature School–we had our first parent meeting! This was not a parent meeting about housekeeping details, registration, or clothing. This meeting was about coming together to discuss education: our thoughts, hopes and dreams, our concerns, our vision. Adhering to our beliefs and core values, we invited parents to join us in partnering together as co- educators to build a community around our children that fosters their learning. As an introduction, we talked about the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach and how we can apply them in our own context. We challenged parents to think about why they came to the meeting and where they see themselves in this journey.

Another incredible gift this week was a painting by Lindsay, a mother in our program. Lindsay had approached us long ago about offering a gift to the school. We walked the land with her and discussed the animals with whom we co-inhabit this space . She presented her work at our parent meeting and spoke to the meaning and symbolism of the work. It was a joyous moment for us all and we are so humbled and grateful for this gift. Lindsay, thank you for your artistry and kindness.

The original piece by Lindsay Heller. Stay tuned for the name plaque in the near future.

This room is set up for our parent evening. Cozy, isn’t it? We love this Cottage!

Parents share ideas in small groups.

In both the Eagle and Owl classes, the children connected to a new place this week. The Eagles call it “Eagle Tunnel”, the Owls have not named it anything as of yet. It has been interesting to watch as each child connected to a different element of this pathway and found pleasure in varying activities. What made this place special to them? For the Eagle class, perhaps it resonated deeply because it reminded them of Tree Tunnel. The Owls seemed attracted to the “fort” which soon became a bat cave. Children love hiding amongst the brush- what is it about being hidden that is so inherently exciting?

Chloe is invited to play along with Hannah, Damon and Damian. The log becomes a train and a boat. Balancing on uneven surfaces, negotiating getting on and off and making up stories are all learning outcomes from this one simple log.

The same log… different group… different ideas!

The fort has a small opening on either side which leads to lots of in and out. Here we see children learn how to move through the brush without getting hurt while developing their social play skills.

An impromptu sketch time allows for everyone to express their ideas on paper. We have noticed that many children are often drawing the same thing over and over, with very subtle changes or modifications. It seems they need time to assimilate their ideas and make sense of their work.Our team has been wondering about how to support and develop their ideas further.

Heidi invites the children to play a new game she created. The group is ready to follow rules, a new stage in their development.

The Eagle class played a variation of the Blindfold Game. The leading partner led them to a tree; once at the tree, children were encouraged to touch, smell and listen. After, partners created tree rubbings together. In order to make a rubbing, the children had to be patient, figure out how to hold the paper and discover the best way to make a mark.

Taking advantage of the beautiful, sunny day, the Owls are weeding one of the garden beds.

The Eagles turn the soil and pull weeds

Jasmine proudly shows Cyrus “the longest worm ever”.

“We are looking at the sky”. I love this photo– the children are so comfortable on this land, even the gravel paths. How glorious to be able to take a moment in your day, lie down and gaze at the sky. We can certainly learn from these small folks.

Ezra is concentrating on his work, even as his friends play around him. How do we learn to attend to a task without disruption?

Sola explores the fort. I wonder if she prefers to run through it without stopping– is there a reason why she didn’t stop half way through?

Ella and William are enjoying working in close proximity (look at their feet touching). What will happen when they get up? Will they play together?

Using their muscles to tackle this slippery climber, the boys engage in a dynamic pretend play. Thomas seems to be enjoying Kingston and Ezra’s sense of humour!

Community spirit- Ezra’s grandpa starts to build the shed. Soon, Ella’s dad and mom arrive to help.

Bonnie is doing a great job reading the assembly instructions and uses the heavy drill- yay Bonnie!

Tea, soup, and cookies. Damon is serving a bowl of soup to Nicole. At what point in our development does it become harder to make believe?

This friendship has been growing this week and is demonstrated in an act of trading jackets. These small interactions are the foundations of relationships. Will they trade another article of clothing or an object next week?

Kate, Heidi and I spend several hours looking at our notes and documentation. We are discussing the children’s interests, where to take the ideas and how to manage our systems.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Confidence: in ourselves, in others, and the world around.

This week was one of building confidence– within ourselves, in others and the world around us. Children worked at trusting themselves whether it be physically or emotionally; they put trust in their teachers, their buddies and in the landscape. The Owls spent a lot of time testing their physical boundaries and the Eagles devoted time to challenging their minds and spirits as they met up with two buddy groups. Creating openings for learning in these areas is important and holds great value.

Wyatt wants desperately to climb the tree but once he is up his nerves take over. He starts to giggle nervously, feeling unsure of his balance. After some reminders about deep breathing and stillness, he finds his place and confidently perches on the branch. Sophia is eager to scamper up the trunk.

Haymie challenges himself. He really wants to try this maze but he is very uncertain about his ability to balance. This exercise takes a lot of motor planning and coordination. Haymie works through his fear with the help of a gentle hand held by his side for reassurance. How will he tackle this next time?

The Owls enjoy spinning each other around. There are many negotiations between them as they determine who is spinning, who is on the spinner and stopping when someone calls out. As an educator, we must remember to step back and let children figure out their own set of rules.

Mason bravely wobbles along this rope, determined to reach the other side. HIs disposition is calm as he moves through the movements of reaching with his hands and then bringing his feet forward.

Without talking, Louie and Thomas work together to design a chute. Often we need very few words to express a thought. How do these children communicate their ideas?

The Owls experiment together using their outdoor materials. Sometimes playing together, sometimes working side by side, there are moments of passivity and moments of conflict. Each and every moment is an opportunity for learning.

The Eagles also have time to play in the Healing Garden. Uninterrupted play, “slow play”, is something we value here at Nature School.

Kaya and Damon work hard to keep the wheelbarrows balanced. After several top overs, they learn how to place their weight evenly. Will this skill transfer to a larger wheelbarrow?

We had some work to do to get ready to meet the culinary students from the Northwest Culinary Academy and Chef Ian Lai for a different kind of buddy session. Our preschoolers are going to teach them about the lands of Terra Nova! To prepare, we went back to our mapping inquiry from earlier this year and asked the children what is important to them on the land. What do they care about? What areas influence them and what do they know about that place? Rather than focusing on their actual knowledge, we wanted to focus on the process of developing their connections and schemas. It was a very interesting and revealing activity.

Children are sketching their ideas about this place, outlining what is important to them.

While in the area most children have termed “Tree Tunnel”, Olina draws “this” tree. She pulls me over to show me that her bark matches the bark on “this” tree!

Hannah explains her drawing to Heidi. Heidi uses skillful questions to bring out more of Hannah’s ideas.

Ty immediately takes to his big buddy, holding his hand and later going on his back as they bend down to pick remnant carrots.

We lead the culinary students to one of our garden beds and share our knowledge with them. We teach them about compost, garlic, carrots. parsnips, bugs and more. Perhaps most importantly we show them we are curious about the world around us and we are very deep thinkers!

Cleaning up after ourselves is a life long lesson. When we use tools, we wash them and care for them properly.

Another day brings the gift of more community connections- our Quilchena Buddies! It was a very VERY wet day and we were so proud of our buddies for biking over in the downpour. Going through challenging moments together deepens relationships.

Mr Vines is our first “Eagle” in our game. Similar to hide n’ seek, children find a place to cache themselves without the eagle seeing them. This game develops awareness and agility.

Cooking and eating together creates a family feeling- it is a great way to get to know each other on new levels. For a cooking activity, we are making Vietnamese salad rolls. For some students, the ingredients are new and unfamiliar. It is a pleasure sharing new flavours with them.

Will the students get inspired to make these at home?

A full and most rewarding week!

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Transcending the First Layer

Andy went off the path to touch this tree. I am not sure what sparked his interest but look how gently he is running his hands along the bark. What will happen next time he walks by this same tree?

We had an exciting week at Nature School! This week, our staff spent much time dialoguing amongst each other to uncover the multiple layers of children’s thinking. Upon hearing a comment or witnessing a certain reaction or behaviour, we have been extremely diligent about making sure we do not take that one piece at face value. We asked a lot of questions– which led to more questions. We explored responses together; agreeing on some, disagreeing on others. We had healthy and respectful debates on programming. This work– the work of teaching young children, is so rewarding and energizing!

On Tuesday, Olina cut pieces of yarn and pretended they were noodles. The following day we offer her a bowl of hard pasta to cut into pieces. Nicole joins in and soon there is a bowl of short noodles ready to be cooked for our lunch. Perhaps this can lead to other discussions about pasta? Maybe it is time to bring my pasta maker into class?

The Studio offers children a place to discover. These four children continue to work on their boats- they are adding dimension and new layers. Will it float? Will the colour remain steadfast? What is the best way to attach the foam pieces to the wood?

Ty demonstrates keen self-awareness as he takes a break from the energetic building area to find a quiet moment to himself.

In preparation for our big buddy day, photos from our last visit together are put on a slide show. Kaya is intently examining the photos, enjoying seeing herself and her buddies.

A new idea emerges for us… while children are waiting for others to arrive at Gathering Circle, we offer children a clipboard for drawing. Everyone is very busy translating what they see in front of them to paper.

Adam and Ella share a laugh. It is so wonderful when children share humour- it can deepen friendships or even create new ones. Could this be the start of a new one? Or , will it just be that one singular moment?

Ella and Anna Sophia are making up stories about their turtles. Like their classmates, they are covering them up with mud. I wonder if we bring other play animal figures outside, will they be inclined to cover them up as well?

Mason and Joel,having just watched others do the same, cover the turtles with mud. Are they trying to protect the turtles? Are they making a secondary shell? Are they using the mud like a blanket?

Jack enjoys collecting! Beans, rocks, pine cones- he loves finding his treasures and carrying them around. What it is about collecting things do we like? What do you collect?

Heidi opens a discussion about nests. The Owl classes have shown an interest in nests; we are trying to figure out what interests them about nests? Is it about who lives in them or what are they made of? Is it more about the idea of being safely hidden from others? This interest began long ago so we are having fun exploring ideas with the children.

Kingston is constructing using tape, paper and a ruler. With this simple activity, he is developing his fine motor skills and creativity. Allowing him time on his own promotes independent thinking.

Finn and Sophia work together in the building area. If this building is left there, will they return to it the next day?

After a long, long walk we find “clay”. Our group works hard to dig, scoop, rip, tear, pull weeds and clay in the area. Due to time constraints we had to leave despite the protests from the group. They want to return this week. Nikolas said he needs a shovel so perhaps we can bring a few spades.

This small group really bonds during this long walk. Each child needs help at some point and it is lovely to see the younger helping the older and vice versa.

Looking forward to a new week!

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Refreshed and Ready!

Returning from winter’s break was truly a delight! It was so marvellous seeing all those adorable faces, eager for hugs and being outside. Breaks are important for all of us; I think sometimes we forget that children need them too. They work hard, really hard, each and every day. Playing and learning is hard work! And, our amazing Nature School parents…. they too need a break. They need a break from rushing to arrive at school on time, organizing outdoor gear, lunches and snacks, doing copious amounts of laundry and driving to and from all their children’s activities. We teachers need to re-charge our batteries and spend time with our own families, friends and hobbies outside of our work. So, a good break was had by all and now we are refreshed and ready to learn!

We laughed a lot this week– there were so many funny moments shared between children and our staff. The week was filled with new ideas on water, collaboration in boat making ( more on this in our classroom documentation), ingenuity in the block area, friendships, cooking and enjoying many walks on mild winter days.

The Owls are captivated by Tricia’s oral story telling.

Rolling the compost bin over to its new home. It was quite awkward and heavy so many children helped make a plan to move it.

Heidi finds this plank of wood and Claire asks her if she could use it to make a bridge. She comments that she is thinking about the other bridge they made in December.Damon and Nikolas decide to be part of this initiative.

Getting ready to pick kale from the garden.

Exploring floating with the Eagles and Owls:

Making Roasted Veggie Mash from our garden’s harvest.

We are ready to share a meal together. Meal time is an important part of our day at Nature School; a time to connect with others, discuss food and practice our self-help skills and manners.

Nell and Valarie are caring for their babies. Our instincts to wrap and cuddle our young is so prominent, even at a young age. Are they caring for their babies the way they were cared for? How gentle.

The new year brings our long awaited Documentation Binders. Children and families are encouraged to look through them to see their work. Here Claire and Olina carefully leaf through the pages. When they see themselves in pictures, does it bring back the memory of the day for them? What do they learn about that moment when they see it again? What do they think when they see their work?

Dimitri’s interest in water extends into the Studio as he experiments with colour mixing and using an eye dropper.

Ryan kindly offers to push Andy in the swing. Maybe Andy will push Ryan in the swing this week? Kind acts promote more kind acts.

Looking forward to a new week!

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Enjoying Life

A beautiful week….of friendship, exploring the outdoors and being cozy in the Cottage!

Rylan leads Claire in a blind fold game. This game develops our senses and promotes new ways to explore.

Haymie and William try the blind fold game. William finds it is hard to be the ‘leader’ as he keeps trying to tell Haymie where to go by using his hands to explain.

Ella works hard pulling the wagon!

We are learning how to bushwhack through the trees. We really need to work together as a team to make sure everyone gets through the bush successfully.

Where there is water, there is fishing. Children pretend to fish in the ‘pond’.

Nathan is working on his star decoration.

Andy is deep in concentration as he figures out just the right amount of glue needed.

Valarie offers Ryan some advice.

Clayten, Ella and Joel squish together purposefully so they can play together with the animals and stacking house.

A lovely moment between Kaya and Nicole as they share a story together.

More bushwhacking. Children learn to leave space in between each other in case branches snap back.

Alex bravely climbs a tree.

Making patterns with sticks.

Owen collects sticks to help build a sculpture.

A meeting of the minds.

Heidi places a fallen branch down as a marker for how far the children can go towards the embankment.

Ethan’s mom, Cassandra, comes in to make a special treat, tangyuan, for Winter Solstice.

Ryan and Claire try to figure out the flow of the water by watching branches float.

Olina and Valarie share a laugh about their friends in the mud.

Damian says ” Emily, when I big I want to do yoga.” So, why not do a little yoga right here, right now?

Rylan looks out for Hannah and helps to pull her from the mud.

A muddy buddy working hard!

Nikolas enjoys digging with one hand gloved, the other bare.

We were so fortunate to have music teacher Chris Roskelley visit Nature School. Children sing and dance as Chris plays guitar.Chris relates all her songs to the animals on this land- wonderful connections for the children!

We care for each other!

Enjoy a warm and sparkling holiday season and see you in 2015!

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Unity

We hosted two family evenings this week as a way to come together and celebrate the joys of the holiday season. To be in our warm, cozy, beautiful Cottage with our children and families was a dream for our team! Kate and I have spent many hours over the past couple of years discussing our visions of events such as these and to finally have it come to fruition was absolutely marvellous! Thank you to all our parents who came out on the stormy nights! For those of you who couldn’t make it, we look forward to seeing you at another family event.

Enjoying a family sing-a-long.

Children use their hand woven bells.

Other moments..

Dimitri is playing hide n’ seek with his friends. Trees make a very good hiding spot! Children learn self-regulation skills as they work at being still and quiet.

Ryan and Damon pull ivy from the tree. These strands of invasive weeds will be used for our jingle bells for family night.

The Owls experiment with rope and tarps. Building a shelter large enough to fit everyone proves to be a wee bit of a challenge.

Working together to bring over a large branch, the Owl team learns about cooperation and spatial awareness.

Jack is scooping and filling his bowl. I am not sure what his internal dialogue is but he is captivated by this activity. I love the fact that he is so content to play with gravel- no fancy beads or stones needed.

Walking on uneven terrain helps to build muscle control and balance. Ezra, Thomas and Kingston are enjoying playing a chasing game.

Heidi spends time listening to the many ideas that swirl in the children’s heads. By taking the time to actively listen, Heidi is showing the children she cares about them and their ideas matter.

Ty and Miles take a private moment to look at one of the gardens. I hear Miles say to Ty ” Look at the worm.” I hear Ty say “The slug is eating this leaf.”

Harvesting carrots in December! WE LOVE BC!! Here the children are washing the tri-coloured gems so they can gobble them up immediately.

Hanging out together, Mason and Thomas fill and then empty boxes. Why do children love to fill empty containers so much? It is interesting to observe this type of play.

Jasmine and Ezra work quietly as they decorate a popsicle stick star with copious amounts of glitter.

Claire says “Emily, look, I planted a garden!” Gathering branches, fallen leaves and other treasures, she creates a space for her foliage.

Damon is adorning himself with beaded necklaces

The children make a fort underneath the harvest table. They assign roles and household tasks to each family member. They are replicating what they know to be true in their own lives.

In celebration of Hanukkah, we play driedel. Learning how to take turns, counting beans and reading the symbols, opens the doors for a lot of learning!

The important seasonal changes around us are apparent to us all. Here, children explore the scarlet runner bean teepee which looks remarkably different now than when we started school.

No caption required!

Ty spontaneously lies down to feel the raindrops on his face. What a beautiful moment!

Our Eagles in front of the Cottage.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Cold weather, warm hearts

Heading into the week we wondered if the cold weather would have an impact on the program. Would the children be too cold? Would we still be able to eat snack outside? How shall we stay warm? Well, it certainly did impact the program in many, many positive ways. Children played on ice, touched snow with bare hands ( intentionally), learned how to put their little fingers into gloves or mittens and had a spectacular week. We truly can play outside in all weather!

Keeping our bodies warm with a game of Mr Wolf.

Damian and Nicole walk behind the rest of the group, chatting to one another as they toddle along.

We walked and walked and walked. So lovely to have an extra pair of hands to hold- thanks to our volunteer Chloe!

Exploring a new area brings excitement and energy–especially when it is slippery with snow!

The Owls enjoy a winter picnic.

Jasmine and Ezra balancing on the fence. They are using their core muscles for balance and leg muscles to climb and sturdy themselves.

Patches of frozen puddles are great for skating. Hannah is feeling nervous and asks me to hold her hands. Her friends look on in support.

Claire takes a risky leap from the ice to the frozen mud. Children enjoy challenging themselves at their own rate of comfortability.

Painting the ice with food colouring. What happens when the water touches the ice? How will the colours blend?

Both the Eagle and Owl classes work on reinforcing the bridge from last week. New ideas are discussed with a variety of new branches and sticks dragged over from near and far.

Kate offers support for those that would like a helping hand to get across the bridge. Allowing children to attempt a challenge while being emotionally and physically supported creates a willingness to take risks.

How many people can fit into this new fort? The fort quickly becomes a jail and a leaf is the “Get out of Jail Free” card.

An impromptu game of hockey using sticks from the garden and a piece of ice as the puck. Love Nature School!

Pushing the small wheelbarrow through the pebbles is a fun activity for Clayten. He is making loud motor sounds as he moves around the play area.

Amelia notices the balance beams and is curious. She gingerly puts one foot one a beam, followed by the other. She is pleased with her own sense of balance.

Children balance beside one another, working independently.

Gluing paper strips to make chains to decorate the Cottage. This simple activity uses math ( patterning), reasoning ( how do I fit the pieces together?) and fine motor skills ( gluing just the right amount).

A village is built. Suddenly the white pom poms from another area were being thrown all over the Village. I watch and listen carefully, wondering the purpose. It was snow of course! Snowflakes were laying a blanket over the Village. How creative!

Ryan works intensely on his self-portrait for his documentation binder.

Working in the Studio, children are encouraged to look closely at their facial features.

In recognition of our St. Nikolaus celebration, Heidi tells a story about giving. The felt pieces are artistic and captivating.

Kaya turns this tree stump into a dog named Bailey. She feeds him, pets him and talks to him. Soon, other children are involved and getting food and drinks for Bailey. Kaya is working through her own relationship with her dog at home. Children use pretend play to help them figure out complex issues in their life.

Nathan and Andy are riding a dragon!

Ella uses the outdoor blocks in a new way. She gathers pine cones and cord to create her own structure.

We visit Tree Cottage to see if it looks and feel different when it is cold. It does! Teaching children to notice the subtle changes around leads to care for the things around them.

Miles snuggles with Shantelle, our caring and responsive volunteer.

Rylan’s mom, Lindsay, prepares a wonderful day of stories, a craft and yummy treat to eat to celebrate St. Nikolaus Day. Thanks for sharing your family traditions with us Lindsay!

Friendship.

‘Till the next post,

Emily

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Everywhere We Turn…

Everywhere we turn is a learning opportunity. If children are permitted time to explore and problem solve, then learning can take place each and every moment. One area we have noticed a lot of learning is in our change pod– yes, it is indeed a little chaotic and congested at times but if one approaches the whole changing transition with a little patience and a LOT of humour, one will discover there are hidden gems inside this small, organized space. Children are learning to care for themselves and each other. Questions posed to them regularly are ” Where do you think you should put your wet muddy buddies so you can find them later?”, “You have very wet socks– what should you do to make sure your feet are warm?”, “Your friend is having trouble pulling off their boots. Is there some way you can help him?” The pod has been home to much laughter and tears- just like any other room in a home. We are cherishing these chances for learning!

Nell and Ryan try to pull Ty out of his storage bin.

Nicole is learning how to keep track of all her belongings.

At first Dimitri said he could not put on his own socks but with some time, he did it all by himself!

Other learning moments in our week…

Louie and Alison cut up garlic for our homemade scarlet runner bean hummus.

Olina and Claire cut pita bread into triangles to make pita chips.

Sophia grinds pepper into the hummus. “Turning the top part is tricky while holding the bottom part still.”

Elisia and Ella find a bird’s nest. Ella ponders what kind of bird this might belong to.

Joel and Cyrus pile into the wagon, a new moment in their relationship. Will this be the start of a budding friendship?

Thinking about the apple tree from last week, the Eagles are wondering about what fruit this tree might produce. They also wonder about climbing the tree but after an attempt, Ethan remarked “The branches are not strong enough.”

Andy, Nicole and Ethan noticed this tree has a broken branch. They are in the process of repairing it.

Nell finds a stick which quickly becomes a fishing rod. Her imagination running strong, she sings songs, catches fish and shares laughs with Valarie!

Haymie and William experiment with balance as they build a tower with the smallest pieces on the bottom.

Building a scene of volcanos and fire, Mason uses his creative mind to develop a storyline.

Brotherly love- Nikolas and Dimitri work together to carry a bucket of soil.

Peter, a City of Richmond arborist and gardener, spontaneously gifts us a beautiful jasmine to plant near our shed. The children watch as he clears room for the plant. Meeting people in our community is important and life changing.

The Eagles help clear the shed! Children love to help with chores and learn how to work through a task.

Yup, we are a bunch of ‘tree huggers” alright! Ty and Nicole love this tree! I would say being out in nature is making strong connections, wouldn’t you?

‘Till the next post,

Emily

Terra Nova Nature School

Nurturing in Nature, Richmond, BC

Deep Thinking

Power in Numbers

Spring Renewal

Being Together

Relationships

Helping Hands

New Groupings

Gifts

Confidence: in ourselves, in others, and the world around.

Transcending the First Layer

Refreshed and Ready!

Enjoying Life

Unity

Cold weather, warm hearts

Everywhere We Turn…

terranovanatureschool