It Not "Just Recess" Anymore!

Teachers often heave a sigh of relief when they take their students out to recess. Finally! The children can burn off the pent up energy they had been accruing for the past few hours indoors. But what if we change our outlook on outdoor play time? What if we create an outdoor environment that offered all of the learning opportunities that one would typically find indoors? What if children could run out to a well-planned play yard to find experiences in math, science, nature, dramatic play, water, building and construction, sensory activities, physical development, art and music? What if they play yard developed critical thinking, discovery, problem solving, and cooperative skills? The result would be that we wouldn't have "just recess" anymore. We would have The Outdoor Classroom!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Sensory IS Science

Sensory IS Science is a recipe book of sensory and science activities designed for preschool and early elementary students. Most of the photos are taken directly at our center, but some are borrowed from the blogosphere. If any of these are your photos, please let me know so I can give credit! This book was part of a seminar I offered with a coworker at the ACSI convention in Anaheim entitled "En-Gross-ing Sensory and Science." I hope you enjoy it! PS - it is still a work in progress, so any comments or suggestions are welcome!
If you would like to print it, or if you can't see the book, please click on the link and it will redirect you to scribd where you will be able to download it. Recipes for Learning - Sensory Book
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6 comments:

  1. Tom BedardNovember 16, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    Hi Kristin, Thanks for including me in the Resource section. I did notice you did use a couple of my pictures under the More Ways to Play. The Big Box Incline (http://tomsensori.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-box-incline-with-added-element.html) and the Big Box on top (http://tomsensori.blogspot.com/2012/06/big-box-on-top.html) can be found on my blog. I really like the wide variety of sensory play you have included in your presentation. Tom

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  2. Let the Children PlayNovember 17, 2012 at 2:23 AM

    Hi Kristin - what a wonderful mini book. It covers so much, is practical and useful (especially the recipes) and the images provide inspiration. Best of luck with your presentation - I'm sure you will knock their socks off!

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  3. KristinNovember 17, 2012 at 11:29 AM

    Thanks! I so appreciate both of your comments!

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  4. reginagFebruary 7, 2013 at 12:11 AM

    They are for kids. And we should let them enjoy it.

    click here

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  5. tyleragentFebruary 19, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    Thanks for the post, and I can remember when I was a kid and the only thing that I ever wanted was to be able to have a outdoor classroom. And thankfully during my school years, that wish was granted and we got to have an entire class period outside. It was seriously a day to remember.

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  6. UnknownMarch 15, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    This is a great post. I was looking for outdoor classrooms and found this blog. Thanks for posting.

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