Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/all-we-need-is-a-measuring-tape-water-and-worms/5024260/
“Hello, Ms. Marilyn, would you like some of our acorn soup?” The children at our family child care, Under the Gingko Tree, have rushed with a cup of water, grass, acorns, and other pieces of magic, to our neighbor gardening in her backyard. Daily, our little group of scientists are concocting, experimenting and exploring with the natural loose parts that litter our Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. Through their play they explore hypotheses, collaborate, predict, and problem solve while cementing relationships with their peers.
As a family child care provider, I have the luxury of giving my students the gift of time to create and follow their own paths of learning. By following their curiosities, interests and discoveries, our days are full of learning through play. Given the chance to initiate their own exploration and play, our students become proficient in their social skills and self-education. The learning is always developmentally appropriate because they are writing the curriculum and the adults in their lives expand and join in their learning experience.
Have you ever seen a child with a tape measure? They are in all their glory! We have small tape measures that sometimes make it on our walks around the ...