Under the Oak Tree

Time has been a large part of our outdoor classroom this year. The mild spring we have had has provided the perfect weather for many hours spent outdoors. I believe children need time, time to just be and time to observe and notice everything in their environment. I want the children to spend time developing their self-regulation and developing their large and fine motor skills. The children develop an increasing level of comfort by just spending extended time outside and experiencing nature. They also gain confidence and opportunities to develop their own strengths like solving problems or caring for the plants in the garden. The children have a such a deep sense of pride when they pick a flower that they planted from seed and carefully watered and nurtured until it bloomed. We place a great deal of value caring for the living things in our classroom. The children develop a deep empathy for living things by watching bugs and snails advance their way throughout our environment. They celebrate when the snail climbs up and over an obstacle in the way of his desired path. We look forward to the seasons changing and exploring what that means for our classroom in the months to come.