Dear Stevenson
Families:
Stevenson School will once again be participating in an Outdoor
Education Challenge! Each classroom will be learning outdoors for different
periods of time from May 23 – June 29, rain or shine! Some classrooms have
already been taking their learning outside and building stamina for staying out
longer and for going on community walks. Students will be designing and
constructing shelters for the playground to take a break from the sun, wind
and/or rain. We also will have several tents and our school tipi as sheltered
learning spaces. Students will even be eating lunch outdoors in June. In the event of extreme heat/humidity or
severe rain we will take a break and head indoors.
We are
asking for your support to make this an enjoyable experience. Students should
dress for the weather and will need some supplies to ensure their comfort and
safety each day.
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Rubber boots and a rain coat
or poncho
- Umbrella (optional)
- Sweater or jacket for cool
mornings
- Water bottle
- Backpack
- Sunglasses
- A change of clothes
*All items should be
labeled with your child’s name and room number please.
Our plan is to engage
students in a variety of literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, art, and
play activities that stimulate their interest in and their appreciation of the
outdoors.
While
outdoors in nature, a child is more likely to “encounter opportunities for
decision making that stimulate problem solving and creative thinking because
outdoor spaces are often more varied and less structured than indoor spaces,”
and “induce curiosity and the use of imagination” (Burdette & Whitaker,
2005, p. 48).
Part
of our outdoor learning will involve exploring our community. In September, you signed a permission slip to
allow your child to participate in community walks for the remainder of the
school year. If your wishes have changed
since then, please contact your child’s teacher directly.
Another way you can
support our outdoor learning adventures is to volunteer with your child’s
classroom. Please let your child(ren)’s teacher(s) know if you are available to
join them.
We are looking for
some donations of items that would help in our learning outdoors. If you have
any of the following items or you think of something else creative we could use,
please contact the school:
- Scoops, shovels, cups, wooden spoons
- Pots, pans, muffin tins, pails
- Sidewalk chalk
- Pieces of wood, logs, pegboard,
pressboard, cardboard
- Small toys and loose parts (cars,
dolls, shells…)
- Tires
Also, we are looking to borrow the
following items:
- Wagons
- Wheelbarrows
- Adult sized shovels
- Binoculars
We are excited to share this
adventure with our students and look forward to the learning opportunities we
will have together. If you have any questions, please
contact your child’s teacher at school.
Yours in learning,
Stevenson Staff
“We must teach them to love the earth, before we can ask them to
save it.” ~Unknown
Photo credit: @missgriffithroom3
"How do you teach a child coordination, problem solving, curiosity, spacial awareness and a love for nature? You let them climb a tree! #letkidsbekids #outdoorlearning #playoutside #getbacktonature" - Miss Griffith
