Embedded Files
Please be sure your child is dressed for the weather. We go outside EVERY day, at least twice a day. Only the most extreme weather conditions keep us indoors.
Just a FEW benefits of outdoor play! Outdoor play and learning...
boosts physical health (natural light and fresh air are so important!);
improves mental well-being;
improves attention behaviours, self-regulation, and working memory;
can improve executive functioning (ability to make decisions, show self-control etc.)
Every Tuesday and Wednesday we spend an hour in the forest. We will walk the paths in the forest behind our school, use our senses to discover the changes each season brings and read stories together. Please help us by being sure your child is ready for the weather everyday... but especially every Tuesday and Wednesday!!
WINTER FUN! We built snowmen, made snow angels, made bird feeders, threw snowballs at targets, went on scavenger hunts, played hide and seek, made shelters, measured trees and watched the birds - and so much more! We are learning that the woods behind the school gives us many gifts, in all seasons!
WINTER FUN! We built snowmen, made snow angels, made bird feeders, threw snowballs at targets, went on scavenger hunts, played hide and seek, made shelters, measured trees and watched the birds - and so much more! We are learning that the woods behind the school gives us many gifts, in all seasons!
Ayden, Usman and Ahmad play among the trees
Ayden, Usman and Ahmad play among the trees
Lilly measures trees with her arms
Lilly measures trees with her arms
Bahaa found a hibernating spider!
Bahaa found a hibernating spider!
Building snow sculptures
Building snow sculptures
Peek a Boo!
Peek a Boo!
A good walking stick!
A good walking stick!
Looking at field guides
Looking at field guides
Watching the birds
Watching the birds
Thorsten blows powder snow
Thorsten blows powder snow
Usman and Bahaa
Usman and Bahaa
Ayden makes a snow angel
Ayden makes a snow angel
Making bird feeders!
Making bird feeders!
The children noticed birds and squirrels in our woods, so we made simple bird feeders with paper towel rolls, lard and seeds. We hung the feeders in the woods and checked them regularly. It only took a few days for all the seeds to be eaten!!
Bahaa and Thorsten put extra seed on some fence posts.
Bahaa and Thorsten put extra seed on some fence posts.
Watching woodpeckers and bluejays
Watching woodpeckers and bluejays
Shelters, shadows, sleds and snow!
Shelters, shadows, sleds and snow!
We have been enjoying the beautiful snow and sunshine. We have built shelters, we have discovered our shadows and how the sun's position determines how tall or short our shadows are, and we have had fun with our sleds on the fields.
Thorsten and Ahmad
Thorsten and Ahmad
Ms. Michelle and Bahaa
Ms. Michelle and Bahaa
Ms. D and Usman
Ms. D and Usman
We strung a tarp up over tree branches to make a shelter.
We strung a tarp up over tree branches to make a shelter.
So cozy and warm!
So cozy and warm!
Romal traversing a log
Romal traversing a log
Developing our climbing skills: Bahaa, Romal and Ahmed
Developing our climbing skills: Bahaa, Romal and Ahmed
At 8 a.m. our shadows are very tall! Then sun is low on the horizon.
At 8 a.m. our shadows are very tall! Then sun is low on the horizon.
For safety we leave our sleds along the path when we explore the woods.
For safety we leave our sleds along the path when we explore the woods.
Usman and Ahmed found lines in nature.
Usman and Ahmed found lines in nature.
Lilly and Ayden practice tree climbing.
Lilly and Ayden practice tree climbing.
We have learned what trees are safe to climb, and we practice with a teacher close by!
Romal enjoys playing with his grade 1 buddies.
Romal enjoys playing with his grade 1 buddies.
Throwing snow into the ravine.
Throwing snow into the ravine.
The children are learning where and when it is safe to throw snow.
Dressed for the weather!
Dressed for the weather!
Friends!!
Friends!!
Our forest walks will allow us to combine physical education, science, a love for our planet and language learning. We also learn new vocabulary and do math when we are in the forest.
We are observing the changing seasons... we have noticed the leaves turn from green to red, yellow, orange and brown, and now we see the leaves falling off the trees revealing bare branches. There are so many interesting things to discover in the forest!
We made leaf kabobs!
We made leaf kabobs!
Ahmad stacked many leaves on his stick.
Ahmad stacked many leaves on his stick.
Usman
Usman
Ahmed found a leaf as big as his face!
Ahmed found a leaf as big as his face!
So many leaf bouquets!
So many leaf bouquets!
Romal
Romal
Now we see there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees!
Now we see there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees!
Usman and Hayade made leaf angels!
Usman and Hayade made leaf angels!
Ahmad and Thorsten made a teepee with a grade 1 friend from Mme Leung's class.
Ahmad and Thorsten made a teepee with a grade 1 friend from Mme Leung's class.
Morning circle with our new friends in Mme Leung's class.
Morning circle with our new friends in Mme Leung's class.
Usman built a small structure.
Usman built a small structure.
Ahmed found a stick shaped like the letter L.
Ahmed found a stick shaped like the letter L.
Ayden found a BIG stick!
Ayden found a BIG stick!
Building strength and balance. Lilly is so tall!
Building strength and balance. Lilly is so tall!
Romal loved sitting in the teepee!
Romal loved sitting in the teepee!
Our First Forest Walk!!!
We learned about sticky burrs and how the burr allows seeds to travel far distances.
We learned about sticky burrs and how the burr allows seeds to travel far distances.
Burrs look spiky but are kind of soft.
Burrs look spiky but are kind of soft.
Ahmad was so interested in the fungus. "Smells good!"
Ahmad was so interested in the fungus. "Smells good!"
We see this tree from our classroom window and we will be tracking the changes!
We see this tree from our classroom window and we will be tracking the changes!
Mrs. Matson reading a new favourte:
Mrs. Matson reading a new favourte:
It's The Bear!
It's The Bear!
Checking out 'our' special maple tree
Checking out 'our' special maple tree
Page updated
Report abuse