This is the stone pathway that leads into Alexander Elementary School's outdoor classroom (see the May 2 article, "New classroom will give Alexander students a place to learn in the great outdoors," for more details).
On Wednesday, the school held an open house for community members. A group of fifth-grade volunteers manned the various learning stations and explained to visitors what each one was all about.
The path led to a bridge that fords a stream, which visitors crossed in order to reach...
...Station B: "The Gathering Area," which McKenna Moran described as a "beginning and ending point" for students and teachers.
Here are some more close-up pictures of what that will look like:
This area will also include a storage bin for educational materials about nature, as well as for stories about nature written by the students.
"We find that when kids come out into nature it opens up their creativity," said teacher Ellie Jinks, who affirmed that the outdoor classroom can be used for all academic subjects.
Kolbee Koch and Jacob Przybylski had the job of explaining the "Messy Materials" station, which will give kids the opportunity to engage in unstructured play. Koch said it will also include "seasonal materials," such as pumpkins.
Alyssa Dudley and Haley Alvord hung around to talk about the "Building Area," which is where students will be able to work on their math, visual and spatial abilities by building models "on a scale impossible indoors" (according to Dudley) using blocks and other natural materials.
Taya Townley manned the "Wheeled Toy Area," which is kind of self-explanatory. The photo below gives an idea of what it will develop into.
Nick Allen staffed the "Sand and Dirt Digging Area," which will have a large, in-ground planter surrounded by stone in the center. Students will use this space for "digging, planting and plant care" opportunities.
Paige Cumming's job was to help showcase Station L, where kids will hone their "music and expressive movement" abilities. This area will include a 100-square-foot, handicap-accessible stage and two installed musical instruments.
Cumming said that students will also be able to use this space to put on performances.
And here is the "Bird Watch Area," which is for the observation of wildlife. Landscapers will plant a variety of vegetation to attract wildlife, in addition to installing bird feeders and similar structures.
As an additional educational perk, the classroom includes signs identifying the types of trees that grow there:
(This is a Norway spruce. The letters on the sign were more visible before the picture was resized.)
The school district is working on this project with the help of the Nebraska-based organization Nature Explore. This will be the first certified Nature Explore outdoor classroom in Western New York, and it is designed to benefit students of all learning styles.
But it is not meant only to benefit the school district. According to Sheila Hess -- an Alexander parent and employee of Conservation Connects, which is also involved in the project -- people in the community will be encouraged to use this space as well (for picnics, a place to bring the kids, etc).
For more information, visit the Alexander Central School District's Outdoor Classroom Page.
Supplemental Photos
A drawing of what will eventually be the arch of entry:
Footprints in the pathway:
This is so neat! Keep up
This is so neat! :) Keep up the good work, kiddos!! Love it. Alot to be learned here. I especially enjoyed the pic of the boys at the "Messy Station." Caute!