Our Hikes
I had originally thought of our hikes as a way for children to move their bodies safely without masks. With the reading of trail signs and maps, our hikes quickly became a meaningful way to support the transfer of developing literacy skills into the woods. This week I observed our hikes become something more.
Our hikes have become a time for children to tell stories and connect with their peers.
A hike can build relationships through the shared challenge of a slippery muddy slope. A trail of tricky roots can empower. A peer falling down can be an opportunity to practice patience and empathy.
The children cheer and support their new peers. They share bits of knowledge about plants and animals. They laugh and tell jokes. They disagree on the possibility of seeing a tiger on the trail, but agree that if we were to ever see a tiger, we would definitely go back to school.
When I planned for the first weeks of school I wrote down when and how we will define the word community. But, perhaps we're exploring and defining community right now, along the river and between the trees.
I didn't expect our hikes to cultivate a sense of togetherness and there is magic in the unexpected!
Introducing unifix cubes and a five frame!
Making name signs, representing and showing how we are responsible at school, sharing our work and responding to a read aloud using our iPads!
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