Outdoor Classroom

IMS Outdoor classroom takes place once a week for students ages 4-8. The concept of the outdoor classroom is built upon the premise that children are complex beings. To nurture the whole child, early childhood education needs to follow the fundamental principle that children are learning everywhere and all the time. Children need a broad variety of learning experiences and opportunities to grow in areas such as gross and fine motor development, social-emotional development, language development, and creative expression. Most activities that can be done indoors can be done outdoors. There is a full range of activities for children to participate in, including many activities that are traditionally thought of as “indoor activities.” The outdoor space offers a balance of areas for physically active and less active play. While outside, children frequently can initiate their own learning experiences and activities, with teachers available to support them. Children experience nature in as many
ways as possible.