DEVELOPMENTAL ACQUISITION
We strive to enhance the natural unfolding of the whole child, meeting each individual where he/she is developmentally. We will accomplish this through modeling, support, and scaffolding with a multi-aged group.
Specific examples of development through outdoor group activities:
Gross motor
Through hiking, climbing, running, hopping, jumping, swinging, rolling, crawling, circle games and movement, and large-scale construction
jump - skip - run - hop - balance - cross the mid line - push - spin - pull - tumble - climb - fly - fall - roll - bat - clap - pedal - kick - wrestle
Fine motor
Through drawing, tying, stitching, cutting vegetables and fruits, stirring, picking, fastening, painting, sculpting, woodworking, hand games, and small-scale construction
cut - write - pinch - scoop - dump - string - grasp - squeeze - braid - draw - control - roll - wipe - manipulate
Social
Through circle activities, group hikes, cooking together, shared mealtimes, free play, group observation, singing, storytelling, puppet plays, observation of animal social structures, doll play, and house building
diversity - age - language - study - community - social roles - earth studies - environment
Emotional/Team Building/Community
Through imaginative play, storytelling, free play, observation of natural world, and circle activities
help - cooperate - process - nutrition - communicate - regulate - verbalize - understand - solve - love - empathy - esteem
Cognitive/Literacy/Numeracy
Through collecting, labeling, classifying, observation, storytelling, singing, pattern
recognition, and cause and effect in the natural world
sing - read - write - talk - listen - spell - alliteration - sign - rhyme - reenact - recognize - discriminate
chart - compare - sort - size - pattern - size - graph - sequence - estimate - weigh - vote - count - shape - recognize - add - subtract
Health and Personal Awareness
Physical movement, daily rhythms, overcoming obstacles, self-awareness, personal challenge, healthy food preparation and eating habits
self-recognition - identity - share - laugh - empower - respect - express - belong - accept - personal safety
Sensory Development/Science
Through water play, digging, sculpting, free exploration, smelling plants, cooking, woodworking, crafting, dyeing, observant listening, weather experiences, and music
explore - investigate - measure - question - predict - wonder - experiment - guess - connect - hypothesize - senses - magnify - photograph - type - operate - record - revisit
Spatial Awareness
Through nature walks, movement, balancing, natural forest environment and relationship to its elements
Creative Arts
Through mixed medias, loose parts, song and dance, and open-ended free play
paint - sculpt - mix - blend - glue - build - act - dance - sing - clap - beat - space - snap - swing - rhythm - listen - stretch - drum - run