Room 116’s Nature School A Guide for Parents

J. Wainberg, OCT, Certified Forest School Practitioner

What is Room 116’s Nature School? Nature School is an initiative by Ms. Wainberg with her Grade 3 class for 2017/2018. Ms. Wainberg has been certified as a Forest School Practitioner by the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, and has been working part-time in this field for two years. Through her training and practice, Ms. Wainberg understands the positive effects of both nature and play in children’s development.

A block of time will be set aside each week for the class to go outdoors for unstructured play. ‘Nature School’ is the name we are giving to this block of outdoor time.

“Unstructured play” does not mean recess, and it certainly does not mean unsupervised. ‘Unstructured’ means that children are not given a specific task by their teacher. Instead, materials and guiding questions will provide opportunities for wonder and exploration. Learning will be documented and then extended upon our return to the classroom; for example, researching to explore a new theory, or developing an inquiry project about something we discovered.

Outside classroom walls is a learning environment that is changing constantly with the seasons, time of day, weather, wildlife, and what children bring to each session (their questions, feelings, preconceptions, etc.) By taking our learning outdoors, we find exciting possibilities to connect with new knowledge, with our surroundings and with each other.

Why Nature School?As we look forward to the future, learning needs to shift to meet the demands of a changing world. These demands will require children to be skilled in collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, risk taking and flexibility. We can also see, in the last decade or so, an alarming rise in stress-related issues among children including higher rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns, along with declining physical fitness for many children.

A large body of research shows that outdoor play addresses these needs and contributes positively to children’s development (helping to grow their minds, bodies

and emotions). Room 116’s Nature School addresses the YRDSB’s Modern Learning and Mental Health initiatives by providing a space for play, wonder, exploration, engagement, collaboration and skill-building – all of which will have long-lasting benefits for children.

Through this program, our goal is to allow children to develop skills, build a deep connection to nature and increase empathy toward themselves, others and their community.

Logistics: What does Nature School Look Like?Our Nature School runs on a weekly basis. A block of time will be designated on our weekly timetable. Communication to families is done through the agenda and class website in advance so children can be properly prepared (see Dressing for the Outdoors, below). We will aim to spend at least 60 minutes outside. Time frames depend on weather (including temperature, humidity, smog and precipitation). In the case of changing weather or student needs, we may head in early, cancel or reschedule Nature School for that week. Our Nature School takes place in the same location each and every week – the meadow area located at the northeast corner of the school yard. We welcome parent volunteers to our Nature School (following Board volunteer protocol). Our volunteers assist in all aspects of the Nature School program, from exploring with children and asking them questions, to providing support for washrooms. Our volunteers are encouraged to document our students’ learning with the use of iPads.

A Bit More about Forest School…Our program is shaped by the principles of Forest School Canada, which are:

a) Regular and repeated sessions in the same natural space

b) Learning is child-directed, inquiry-based and play-based.

We aim to link these ideas with the Ontario curriculum where appropriate. This model of outdoor learning has numerous benefits for children. Forest Schools in various forms are growing around the world, with over 100 in Canada and many more

international examples. For more information, please visit http://childnature.ca/forest-

school-canada/.

Best PracticesNature School meets the YRDSB Modern Learning mandate which is centered on hands-on and inquiry-based learning. What does that mean?

Inquiry-Based LearningInquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is all about the process of seeking knowledge. Learners are encouraged to ask their own questions, investigate them, challenge their thinking and communicate their learning. Students might work independently, in small groups or as a whole class. IBL is driven by topics that are interesting and meaningful to students.

What does the teacher do?During Nature School time, the teacher works as a facilitator. Teachers observe students while they learn, making notes about their individual interests, abilities and learning needs. Then the teacher plans learning that either helps children grow or links to the curriculum. Observations also form part of assessment.

FlexibilityWe spend large blocks of time outdoors to give students the chance to engage deeply in learning. The teacher plans for each session, but she will often change the plan for the day in response to meaningful and unexpected opportunities (for example, discovering an animal habitat).

MindsetsParticipation in Nature School will help children to:

Gain appreciation and respect for the outdoors Learn how to dress properly and prepare for changes in weather.

This helps build independence in looking after one’s own needs and comfort

Focus on the benefits of being outside Respond to challenges and focus on solutions.

As students connect with the environment in their school yard, they also gain awareness of the wider community and their responsibilities in it (for example, caring for living things and their habitats).

Health & Safety Procedures PrivacyIn order to document student learning, information will be collected through notes, photos and videos. No photographs or videos that identify individual children will ever be posted online (e.g., class website, Twitter) to the general public or the school community. They may be used during conferences or meetings with parents to show evidence of learning or for assessment.

Hand WashingExcept in winter months, when hands are covered with mittens or gloves, a small hand-washing station will be provided outdoors. Children are encouraged to touch and explore their surroundings, but they might wish to clean their hands between activities.

Washrooms

As our Nature School is just off school property, students have access to the school for the use of washrooms. Children will always be supervised by an adult (***go with a

buddy?***) who will wait outside the bathroom for the students and then return to Nature School. ask Wendy about unlocking doors?

First Aid

Ms. Wainberg is certified in Standard First Aid. Minor scrapes and cuts will be looked after outdoors, as soap and water will be available. More serious injuries are very rare in Nature School; however, should the need arise, school office staff will be involved and parents will be contacted. A first aid kit is carried during all outdoor sessions, as well as a walkie-talkie for communication with the office.

Nature School teachers are trained to constantly evaluate possible risks and check site conditions, such as sudden changes in weather, in order to avoid dangerous situations.

Inclement Weather When the weather presents a risk to students (such as extreme wind chill/ humidity or thunderstorms), outdoor time will be shortened or rescheduled. Rain, snow and hot weather are not considered inclement weather. Being outdoors in different kinds of weather provides new learning opportunities. As well, it teaches children about tuning into their surroundings, wearing proper clothing, and about self-care (for example, ‘I feel cold, so I will play something active so my body warms up’; ‘It is hot today. I will make sure I drink a lot of water, take breaks in the shade and play something less active’).

Risk Management

Risk is an inherent part of playing outdoors, and as research proves, an essential part of healthy child development. However, it is important to differentiate between risk, which is a natural part of play and can be safely managed, and dangers, which should be avoided. In Nature School, children learn to make this distinction, to make safe choices and to understand their own physical limits. By guiding children to discuss safety, rather than just telling them what is unsafe, we give them the skills to consider, evaluate and manage risks, and to approach new situations with confidence and good judgment.

Teachers conduct several types of risk assessments in Nature Schools, which means considering and addressing safety concerns before taking children outside. Ms. Wainberg will assess our site each week, as well as seasonally to look for changing safety issues (for example, formation of ice in the winter, wasps nests in the spring, etc.). While outdoors, teachers involve students in on-the-spot conversations around risks that arise unexpectedly. These may include changes in our play space or the weather, trying a brand new activity, or the introduction of new play materials or tools.

Dressing for the Outdoors

Students and parents will be reminded before each scheduled Nature School session. Please check a weather report and send your child with appropriate clothing to keep them warm, dry, comfortable, and able to fully participate in the outdoor program. Suggested clothing items include:

Fall and Spring Winter Summer

· Sun hat or light winter hat for cool days

· Jacket or raincoat· Clothing in layers· Rain pants and rain

boots· Closed-toe shoes such

as running shoes· An extra set of dry

clothes, including underwear and socks, which you may choose to keep at school

· Winter hat· Winter boots· Snow pants· Mittens or gloves,

waterproof if possible· Scarf· Clothing in layers· An extra set of dry

clothes, including underwear and socks, just in case

· Sun hat· Lightweight long-

sleeved shirt*· Closed-toe shoes such

as running shoes· Sunscreen· Sunglasses

* Lightweight long-sleeved shirts in hot weather can help prevent sunburn, bug bites and plant scratches

Excellent options for clothing can be borrowed from acquaintances or found at thrift stores and do not need to cost a lot of money. If you have financial concerns about providing weather-appropriate clothing, please speak to Ms. Wainberg.

Environmental Sustainability

One of the goals of Nature School is to grow a deep love and respect for nature and a connection to outdoor spaces. This comes with some responsibility for maintaining the site we use. Our class will observe how we impact our site and consider how to take care of it. Through these conversations, we hope to develop a sense of stewardship that children will carry into other aspects of their lives.

The Nature School learning model is supported by the sustainability goals of the Ontario curriculum, the Ministry of Education’s Environmental Education Policy Framework, and the YRDSB Environment and Outdoor Education policies.

Communication StrategyCommunication with families is key to ensuring that students are well prepared for Nature School.

Agenda: Please check the agenda every day. Upcoming Nature School dates (or rescheduled dates) will be clearly indicated in the agenda. The agenda is also where Ms. Wainberg will communicate any information about your child and his/her Nature School experience.

Classroom Website: On our class website homepage (jwclass.weebly.com), families can see a list of upcoming dates, including those of Nature School. Please visit the Outdoor Learning page for photos and reflections on our experiences.

School Newsletter/Twitter: Our learning at Nature School may occasionally be featured in our school-wide monthly newsletter or on the school’s Twitter account.

No students’ faces will be shared in any of these forms of communication without prior parental consent.