Developmental Acquisition

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