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Learn more about the CRES Nature Based Pre-K
Learn more about the CRES Nature Based Pre-K
Here are some links to learn more about our Pre-K program:
*When the Outdoors is Your Classroom from Educate Maine
*An audio article by Mary Ellen Flannery.
*An episode of Maria Libby's podcast, Super Stories.
*Maine DOE's Office of Innovation, Research and Design audio interview and video clip about our Pre-K program and outdoor learning at CRES.
Our first hike of the year!
Our first hike of the year!
September 15th
After watching this group together, Ms. Cameron and I decided that we would take our first trip over the river and into the woods early this year. This trip was a short one - over the little bridge and on to the big practice field behind the high school. The children were curious to see where the trail might lead and were eager to run on the wide open, empty field.
Later we asked, "What is wonderful about our woods?"
Reid said, "That there is a field!"
Ally thought that we might see bunnies in the woods.
Autumn said "The trees and leaves are a lot more different but they are also similar!"
Bellamy said, "It is so beautiful and there is an acorn cap in my pocket!"
Making new friends
Making new friends
September 12 and 13th
While we typically spend most of our time outside beyond the fences at CRES during the school year, it takes a few weeks for us to figure each other out, establish our routines, and make sure we feel comfortable and safe together before we venture out. This class is eager to make new friends and seem to be adjusting quickly to the new spaces.
Our First Days
The first days of school are busy and exciting for all of us. While the teachers are excited to meet the children who will make up our classroom community each year, the children are just as excited to discover the place where they will learn and play together. In this nature-based program, we will spend a lot of time thinking about our place - whether that is our indoor classroom, our beautiful playground, or our spectacular outdoor classroom and trail system.
It is maple sugaring time!
It is maple sugaring time!
On this sunny Tuesday in March, we met up with a small group of students from the high school to tap some of the maple trees along our hiking trail!
We learned some basic information about identifying maple trees by the way the smallest branches grow, we watched the high school students drill holes and tried our hands at tapping in the spiles, and we learned that it is important to drill the the holes on the sunny side of the tree because that is where the sap flows the fastest.
We look forward to checking the buckets later this week to see if we have collected any sap. Hopefully we'll get to taste some syrup before too long.
In addition to our sugaring adventure, we also spied a very large and very loud pileated woodpecker on a nearby tree. We have been noticing some fresh holes in trees along the trail and now the mystery of the holes has been solved!
Making Friends Along the Trail
Making Friends Along the Trail
On this day in late February, we came upon a group of high school students working on a project in the woods. They had built small cook stoves and were testing them out to see how they would work. The Trailblazers kept a safe distance from the fires but engaged the older students in conversation and asked lots of questions.
We are planning to meet this group again in March to tap some maple trees.
IMG_0192.MOVCreative Play in our Woods
Creative Play in our Woods
The trails were too icy for a hike today and our pre-k woods were also too icy to play safely so we had to search for a new spot for our adventures. We eventually found this little space near the tennis courts behind the high school. As we explored the space we found a fire pit, a place to build a fairy house with the "soft wood" from a rotting log, and a small icy pond to fish for lobsters and small fish (which Henry then cooked on the "fire"). The group fell into a comfortable rhythm of play in this quiet space.
Later when we were back in the classroom the children took time to record their adventures in their personal field journals (see the photos below for some examples).
Sledding hill 2.mp4
Ramona in the stream - Edited.mov
Outdoor Provocations
Outdoor Provocations
One of our favorite parts of the pre-k outdoor classroom is the stream. Each day it provides a space for adventure and wonder. Here you can see Ramona thinking very hard about how the leaves are traveling on the rivulets of water. This is just a quick video capture, but she and others had been repeating this process on and off for a good twenty minutes. What do you think she is wondering? What do you think could she learn from this repeated action?
Provocations for learning
Provocations for learning
Each morning before we go outside, we have time for “table work” as children arrive at school and transition into their day here at CRES.
The three big tables are set with what I refer to as “provocations.” I have a plan for the items on the tables and how the activities might meet learning goals, but quite frequently the children have a much more interesting plan once they engage with the materials.
Here you see a sample of provocations that encourage counting, sorting, matching, patterning, shape exploration, fine motor work, curiosity about the natural world, and drawing from observation.
Spooky Happenings!
Spooky Happenings!
October 26, 2021
With Halloween right around the corner, we have had some morning work offerings that give children the opportunity to think about "spooky" things.
We are much more focused on the creative process than on the product in this class so at one table we had a collection of loose parts: sticks, twigs, and gem-like leaves that the children used to make spooky fall trees (if you look closely, you'll notice that most of the leaves are no longer on those trees!).
At another table we had orange and black paper, scissors, and glue for our first try at scissor work together. The children have been incredibly proud of their work and have been hanging their jack-o-lanterns on one of our magnetic boards. The collection is growing all the time!
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
During our time in the woods today, we read Leaf Man, a perennial fall favorite. After hearing the story, we took a collection walk to find items in our woods that we could use for our own creative leaf creations.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Thursday, October 21, 2021
As the very first group of pre-k students at CRES, and the very first official outdoor, nature based public pre-k in Maine, we have taken to calling ourselves the Trailblazers. This group is always up for big adventures!
On our hike today, we found some impressive fallen trees and after a quick risk assessment, the clearing of some nearby broken branches, and talking about safety, the children were invited to use the logs as balance beams.
Some feet got muddy in the muck below the branches, but the children quickly realized that holding your arms out wide helps to keep your body steady as you go.
Taking risks and challenging our bodies is a big part of our time in the woods together.
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