Forest Kindergarten: Nature Inquiries (Full Semester)
Is your child a nature collector? The rules are simple-anything found in nature and it can go anywhere the child can imagine during the weekly show and tell. From a science inquiry to a mythical story all the while making friends.
Barbara Sheridan - Nature School Teacher M.Ed
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(36)
What's included
24 live meetings
18 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Students are expected to bring nature items to class. These should be easily found in backyards or nature walks. Teacher may request household items by email to the parents like ribbon or paint brushes occasionally at least a week in advance.Assessment
The class will meet for six weeks before the midterm break and the teacher will send a paragraph on each learner on what their level of inquiry learning, collaboration and social skills they displayed throughout the class after the the full 12 classes parents will receive a a paragraph on where the student improved in inquiry learning, collaboration and social skills and also how parents can help scaffold children to the next level.Class Experience
US Grade Kindergarten
This full semester class is bringing the forest kindergarten learning style home for remote students. We meet twice a week for 12 weeks with one mid term break. This allows us to build relationships with each other so we can focus on collaborations and social skills in this semester long class. We take time to explore some of the elements of what makes a forest kindergarten so magical. Students will attend with nature items and the teacher will facilitate discussions and collaborations between the children for each item. Children will be supported in their transitions to emerging cognitive skills for inquiry learning, and their emerging social skills to work with each other. This will be done through the lens of the Forest kindergarten pedagogy. All pictures and video are from actual inquiries. This course is a cross curricular course and will work on science inquiry skills, life skills, collaboration skills and social skills using nature and curiosity with a show and tell format. Specific topics covered each week will depend on items that the students bring to class. Each student will share at least one item and the students will be facilitated to start a science inquiry or work on a collaboration to build a story through social skills and play. This will be done through the lens of Forest kindergarten pedagogy. The first five to ten minutes of the program will be a check in with the students and the there will be five to ten minutes towards the end of class that will be a collaborative discussion about ideas for items to bring to the next class. If students are just emerging in this process they are free to bring a snack or toy to play with while they listen to others and contribute where they feel comfortable. At the end of the course the teacher will send a paragraph on each learner on what their level of inquiry learning, collaboration and social skills they displayed throughout the class and how parents can scaffold their children to the next level. Photo Credits : Barrie Forest Kindergarten
Learning Goals
Students will explore the level of open inquiry they are proficient at (choosing a topic, asking a challenge question, come up with theories, evaluating theories and drawing conclusions) and will be scaffolded to the next level of inquiry.
Students will practice social skills they are proficient at and will be scaffolded to the next level towards collaborative skills.
Students will contribute to an environment where learners feel safe, secure and supported so they can begin to take steps to work on resilience, innovation, creativity and initiative in their learning.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined March, 2020
4.9
36reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Education from Cape Breton University
I have run a Forest Kindergarten and Natural Learning Program for more 10 years using Inquiry and Project Based Learning. I train educators as a part of the Eco Forest School Collaboration. I trained at Cedarsong under Erin Kenny to earn my Forest Kindergarten teaching certification. I do Forest School Training with Eco Forest School collaboration. I have my Masters of Education in Sustainability, Creativity and Innovation which focuses on innovative learning approaches such as sustainable education, online and in person inquiry and project based learning and creative pedagogy.Reviews
Live Group Class
$350
for 24 classes2x per week, 12 weeks
45 min
Completed by 11 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 4-7
2-6 learners per class
