The Nature Explore Classroom at

KLA Schools of Plainfield is inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach that serves children from six weeks old to Kindergarten and offers a school-age enrichment program.

KLA Schools of Plainfield offers an inviting environment that provides children a place for children’s abilities, competencies and natural curiosity to develop new and inherited talents.  Our school opened in October 2013 and has eleven classrooms, a Piazza for community gatherings, an Atelier and a unique nature-based playground.

We believe that playing and interacting with nature on a daily basis allows children to appreciate nature’s beauty and gifts.  Our playground is inspired by the natural world around us and provides opportunities for the children to explore and be creative in the different areas we created in our outdoor classroom. We incorporate environmental education in our program and our educators find opportunities to extend engaging and thought-provoking experiences outside.

This year we wanted to enhance our playground so the students may have a variety of opportunities to learn about the context of the world around them, flourish their sense of creativity while outdoors, enhance their physical development and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery outside. Behind our playground, the children can see the rich farmland that is within our community.  Our outdoor environment provides rich experiences that allow the students to create music, explore nature through our senses, enhance their balance, socialize with their peers, express their creativity on our chalk wall and art easel, build with loose part, and discover the changes in the elements in our weather station.

Each classroom has selected different vegetables and herbs to grow in our organic garden. In the spring the children planted the seeds in their garden seedling trays and transplanted the plants into the garden. The children visit the garden on a regular basis to water and observe and discover in the garden.  This year, each classroom decided what their intention is for their garden.  These intentions are: who lives in the garden, discovering the garden through our senses, parts of a plant, types of gardens, root plant and vine plants, gardening and health, core values and gardening, and how insects are beneficial and harmful to a garden.

Last year we had such success with our garden and the children had the opportunity to taste and make a variety of fruits, vegetables and experiment with different recipes.  We look forward to seeing what the children learn through their gardening experience and our harvest. This is the second year KLA Schools of Plainfield was awarded the Will County Earth Flag Joan from Will County Green Flag has collaborated and visited our school and provided resources for our program. Joan brought in seeds, planted them with the children for our butterfly garden, educated the children about recycling and composting and provided a compost bin.

 

Address

12456 South
Van Dyke Road
Plainfield, IL 60585