Black Week!

Black Week marks the winding down of our color weeks and the peak of our exploration of Fall.  This week's art activities included collage and paint & fold.  Additionally, our classroom moved outdoors again as we took a nature walk on our beautiful school grounds to collect leaves for gluing and pressing.  Picture Day and Robert C. Parker Day also added excitement to our week!

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

This week I would like to guide you through a closer look at Experiential Learning.

For the past month the children have been observing the leaves on the trees outside our classroom windows.  When our observations first began the weather was warm and the leaves were green.  We discussed how the leaves would change color and then fall from the trees.  I told the children;  "When all the leaves on all the trees have fallen to the ground,  the weather will be colder and winter will be on its way!"  

This week we noted that much of this has come to pass, and much like picking "our apples", we ventured outdoors to collect the leaves we would use for gluing and pressing. 

The children have observed first hand, and participated in each phase of our Fall study.  In so doing they have assumed ownership of this learning; this is the essence of Experiential Learning! 

The very intentional curriculum goal of the past four weeks has been to have the children "experience" Fall through field trips, nature walks, art, music, literature, science, math and cooking!  Experiential Learning is what makes the difference between learning about Fall and knowing Fall!

Have a fun and restful weekend!