Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Nature Explorers

The Reggio Emilia learning philosophy accompanied with the project-based learning approach, encourages children to make meaning of their surrounding environment. The learning approach is inquiry-based which encourages children to ask questions and collaborate with peers, educators, and their environment to discover the answers. Many projects, based off of the interest of the child, include artifacts from the environment. The Compass School feels that projects that involve artifacts found in the daily life of the child are the most meaningful.


Therefore, the environment and nature plays a critical role in the learning atmosphere at The Compass School. The children often take their project work outdoors to aide in discovering answers. Nature becomes intertwined in their projects, creations, and investigations. With a large outdoor space, the children are capable and encouraged to use the environment to extend their learning. 

Below are some examples of how nature has played a role in the learning at The Compass School. 

The children in Sound Stage collect leaves.
Picture by Ashleigh Pylar

A child in Science Lab observes a local flowering plant.
Picture by Allison Greer

Science Lab children explore butterflies at the Krohn's Conservatory. 
Picture by Allison Greer

Siblings from the Think Tank class investigate plants at the Krohn's Conservatory.
Picture by Jillian Albertz

A Science Lab student plants a flower. 
Picture by Allison Greer

The Science Lab class plants Lima beans. 
Picture by Allison Greer

A Think Tank student creates art with tree blocks. 
Picture by Brandi Davis

The Think Tank class explores creating a city with nature.
Picture by Brandi Davis 

The Science Lab children create self portraits with nature.
Picture by Brandi Davis

An infant in Discoverers creates patterns with wood chips.
Picture by Brandi Davis 

The Adventurer class releases their butterflies.
Picture by Ashleigh Pylar

A Science Lab student measures a worm.
Picture by Allison Greer

The Trailblazers explore mud. 
Pictures by Brandi Davis 

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