Orchard Preschool, Classroom Pop-In: Nature and Dramatic Play Go Hand in Hand

It’s no secret that dramatic play is crucial to early childhood development, especially in preschool-aged children. Amazing things can happen when a student is given the freedom to expand their imagination, build confidence, and encounter important social interactions with their peers.
 
Add nature to this concept, along with teachers who fully engage with their students, and you’ve reached a new level of learning. Only at Orchard will you find teachers sitting by the water wearing food strainers on their heads because the kids have declared that it’s “hat day.”
 
As Richard Louv, the author of the book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, would say, "We should not think of a child's experience in nature as an extracurricular activity. It should be thought of as vital to children's health and development."
 
Orchard couldn’t agree more with that statement. Enjoy the photos below as we popped-in on a preschool class out at Orchard’s water feature.
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    • Fine-motor/Math: Measuring “ingredients” and pouring them into the bowl to make potato soup. Sounds yummy!

    • Social and emotional development | Part 1: These two couldn’t agree on how much should go into the potato soup, so they decided on a new job…

    • Social and emotional development | Part 2: …someone needs to make lemonade!

    • Fine-motor/Math: “Time to make cookies!” But not just any cookies…ROCK COOKIES!

    • Social and emotional development: Making strawberry pie, of course. This kind kiddo asked everybody who walked by if they’d like a piece. Mrs. Vincent LOVED IT!

    • You need a crown for hat day, right?

    • Only at Orchard will you find teachers sitting by the water wearing food strainers on their heads because the kids have declared that it’s hat day.

    • More strawberry cake!

    • This one was on a mission to find rocks that look like the pretzels on her shirt :)

    • “Is this an egg?” It is not, but it’s the same shape isn’t it? Looks like it’s time to make scrambled eggs.

    • Gross-motor/confidence building: After discussing that the rocks are slippery and the landing point should but flat, it was time for jumping and slashing.

    • Some jump immediately, while some need to build the confidence to go for it. And when they do, it’s always a beautiful thing.

    • Happy kids = happy students.

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