We are a classroom that is based in holistic and authentic teaching. We have many small projects on the go that have been initiated by the children and when appropriate, supplemented by the educators.
A typical school day, at Ecole Fred A. Hamilton, is split into three 100 minute blocks. During the first block, the children spend at least one hour engaged in self-determined outdoor play. The children have almost the entire yard to explore and often times we venture into the forested area too. This is another reason why it is important to dress your child in clothing that is conducive to the weather (e.g., comfortable and practical shoes, rain boots, warm jackets, mittens, windbreaker). The activities that the children engage in are very creative and fun to watch.
Today, I witnessed a group of children carrying water, pebbles, and sand up the hill to create a waterfall, river, and lake. They started with creating a river close to the school, at the bottom or the hill, then they decided that they could make something even more exciting. They used many tools and great calculations to make this all happen.
Another group, worked on their gross motor and cooperation skills as they pulled the wagon around the track on the tarmac, between other children on tricycles, then through the pebbles near the climber, and then up the hill through the grass to the sand box. I witnessed the teamwork needed to get this wagon over different types of surfaces (the effects of friction) and watched as it transformed from a passenger wagon to an ice cream truck to a castle. There were additional small groups engaged in equally engaging activities.
A larger group took their lunch boxes and walked to the local park. During their walk they were on the look out for numbers on license plates. They also engaged in big body play as they challenged themselves on the climber.
Back in the classroom, they reviewed the weather data for September made observations and predictions for the month of October. They continue to learn French vocabulary through songs and poems and through reading the morning message, which is typically written in this fashion:
"Bonjour !
Comment ça va ? Est-ce que tu aimes les serpents ?
Oui Non"
Carpet time is kept to a minimum (5-10 minutes), as we understand the important of free movement within the classroom.
Many children have been excited to play "Go Fish". Playing card games such as "Go Fish" helps children develop immediate number recognition and reinforces French language acquisition of the numbers two through ten. By handling the thin cards, the children develop greater dexterity. Playing with a group of classmates also teaches the importance of taking turns with others.
I am only touching the surface of some of the learning activities that are occurring during the first block of the day and there are two more blocks!
Please feel free to review a recent SMORE flyer that I created regarding young children and how they think like scientists.