Outdoor Learning

Over the past two years, all of our Kindergarten classes have participated in outdoor inquires and workshops.

We learned that children are spending less and less time in the outdoors and therefore missing out on vital outdoor experiences.

During our outdoor inquiries we observed first hand what many studies have reported on the benefits of taking the learning outside.

We noticed children were:

• more engaged

• less distracted , more focused on tasks

• taking more risks

• seeking out different peers to socialize and work collaboratively with

• children displayed less anxiety

Being Prepared for Outdoor Learning

We go outside in all weather, rain included, every single day. We spend a few hours outdoors with both free exploration time as well as structured play time. It is extremely important that your child has all the necessary outdoor gear everyday in order to be able to fully engage in our program. Please be sure to always have the following labelled items available in your child’s locker:

• Rain boots

• Splash pants

• Extra clothing (socks and underwear included)- Please label the bag clearly- These will stay at school.

Please remember that your child will get dirty. This is part of learning and part of outdoor inquiry. We do explore puddles and mud regularly. Please do not send clothing that you do not want getting dirty. If your child does not have the necessary clothing for our outdoor play, they will miss out on the learning and experiences being had by others in the class. If extra sets of clothing are a challenge, please reach out and we can help.