Our new playground has been a great invitation for exploring, learning and outdoor play at UCDC. It has provided a few new interests for our student-centered curriculum and play-based philosophy. In Preschool 4, we plan weekly lessons based on our students’ current interests to further enhance their natural curiosity and explorations while building upon prior learning experiences.
A recent interest in our class was rabbits…big and small. One morning, a teacher and a student came across a rabbit’s nest (burrow) located next to the bike trail. Instantly, it sparked the child’s interest. Exciting news travels fast! The next day another student lifted the nest to take a peek inside and to their surprise it was full of baby rabbits (kits).
In less than a week, a few baby kits were hopping around the playground while the rabbit theme hopped across the curriculum in our classroom to offer multiple activities & play experiences directed by the continued interest of our students. Here’s just a few:
- Read & listened to books to improve literacy and learn more facts about rabbits
- Explored patterns (AB, AAB and ABC) with tri-colored felt bunnies
- Re-enacted a story (sequencing) with our “Peter Rabbit” Literacy Basket
- Predicted “How long would it take the kits to leave the nest?” (less than a week)
- Developed language and sharing skills in our Two-Person area
- Increased fine-motor skills by tracing, cutting and coloring bunny masks for dramatic play
- Built homes/habitats for bunnies with our big blocks (problem-solving/team work)
- Painted bunny-inspired art while experimenting with mixing watercolors
“Let nature be your teacher.” – William Wordsworth
