The natural beauty of autumn leaves and fall harvests continue to impact our early learners as we explore, create, and imagine outdoors in our forest and school garden. As a way to integrate children’s fascinations with all that comes with autumn our team has co-created some intentional learning explorations that also connect to our student’s developing… Read More Autumn Play and Learning Invitations
These rustic birch tree snowmen were a joy support our littles in making. Our class spend lots of time outdoors and in the forest. These snowmen are truly a reflection of our kindergarten experience. Each child selected their materials and made choices based on their preferences and creativity. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing the children’s eyes… Read More Rustic Birch Tree Snowmen
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me fluttering from the autumn tree.” -Emily Bronte For many children and adults a natural interest in leaves re-surfaces each and every year when the leaves change colour. Fall is an amazing opportunity to nurture children’s natural curiosity in the environment and outdoor learning. Below are some playful invitations to play and learn… Read More Exploring Leaves Through Play
Since the screen-obsessed child began to dominate much of western culture many parents have been struggling with how to foster the creative play they once experienced as children in the forest playing with sticks. In Kindergarten classrooms across Ontario, Canada, educators have begun connecting children with nature by bringing natural materials into the classroom for… Read More Hey Educator, What’s This Loose Parts Play You Keep Talking About? A Parent’s Guide to the Benefits of Loose Parts Play
Our youngest learners have spent many hours playing with this woodland forest small world play sensory tray. What’s more than natural materials and loose parts for open-ended play lies an opportunity to think more deeply about literacy and numeracy. Naturally, adults would see this provocation as an invitation for children to share stories with lots of oral language… Read More Woodland Forest Small World Play (Math and Literacy embedded in Play)
Have you tried infusing math into your small world play? We love wood cookies and have many in our room and outdoors. Some are numbered, some have dots, others have letters or words on them. Constant exposure to numbers, letters and sight words in small world play is such a simple and easy way to… Read More Small World Zoo
Inviting children to come together and work on a collective project always proves to provide opportunities to share ideas and problem-solve. This collaborative art panel was no different. We started by using painter’s tape to section off spaces for our early learners. We didn’t ask them to only work in one space, but these lines… Read More Collaborative Art Panel
Our early learners showed interest in bird’s nests. The children had been building birds nests in the sand outside and we thought we’d bring that interest indoors for them to explore further. So, the DECE (Designated Early Childhood Educator) in our team collected materials from our room to create this lovely provocation. The children loved it.… Read More Bird’s Nests Provocation
Our kinders have been creating and exploring the relationship between art and nature. Our colour palette is inspired by the fall season, but not restricted in any way. Kinders have used techniques taught and then given freedom to explore techniques and colour by their own choosing. This first collection is used by… Read More Fall Colours Art Provocations
inspired by play 