Week of December 7, 2020

This week was filled with exploration, multiplication fact families, and reading groups. With the weather continuing to be chillier, especially in the mornings, we have adapted our schedule to accommodate. Each morning, students begin their morning outside. After their morning jobs are complete, students can play within the forest classroom. This early morning physical activity has proven beneficial to all. Around 8:55, we venture inside for our ELA Groups. This consists of reading groups, spelling work, and writing tasks. Around 10 o'clock, students gear back up and we head back outside for snack and math. Everyone has become really accustomed to these transitions, and again, the additional movement has proven helpful. When it is time to work, students are ready to rest their legs and work their brains. When their brains are tired, their legs are restless and ready to move. Math rotations last until 11:05. Depending on the related art of the week, students will either venture back into DBS or remain outside for their special at 11:15-11:45. After this, we enjoy our lunch outside and Exploration time. At the end of each day, we gather together for our read-aloud. 

Here is a sample schedule for those who were wondering:

8:00-8:50 Arrival, Morning Jobs, Morning Work, Play (outdoor classroom)

9:00 ELA I & II/or Science (indoor classroom)

10:05 Snack (outdoor classroom)

10:20 Math I & Math II (outdoor classroom)

11:15 Related Arts (location varies)

11:50 Lunch (outdoor classroom)

12:10 Exploration Time (outdoor classroom)

1:00  Clean up outdoor space

1:15 Read Aloud (outside)

1:25 Dismissal begins

Here are some pictures from the week:

We had more wood delivered from TNT Stump and Tree Services! Everyone was enthralled by the dump truck!

Now we will be warm for quite some time. 

Working on our new poem of the month!

Our forest is a beautiful place

Teamwork while building a new fort

Spending some exploration time learning how to saw wood in order to build onto the new fort

Many kiddos wanted a turn

Finding ice "crystals" everywhere these days!

All of the hard work paid off! This fort looks great!

We were given permission to use the playground for the first time this year. It was a great end-of-day surprise!

Math games in the sun

Adding a little holiday spirit to the forest