QUESTION

Outdoor Learning, Play and Exploration
Go EXPLORE! Developing an Awareness of Self in the Outdoors

“Children have a right to experience the joys and wonders that outdoor play can bring. There is a whole exciting world to discover, and we owe it to children to share it with them.” [Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 9]

Part 1:My topic: The kids went to Fish Creek in Calgary.
Children played in the mud, were drawn in wagons, and ate hearty food. do barbecue
NOTE:  when going on an outdoor excursion to benefit and reflect on it, you need to allow TIME for the experience.  Be ready to spend at least an HOUR outdoors during your experience. This assignment may re-shape your ideas about the outdoors and its benefits.

Choose from the following, “menu of possibilities” for outdoor excursions-

The excursion you choose needs to be something you have NEVER done OR find challenging to do. Share your excursion idea with your instructor.
• Go to a natural park : Fish Creek

Part 2: Use the Cycle of Curiosity and the PEER Principle as your guides:  My topic: The kids went to Fish Creek in Calgary.
Children played in the mud, were drawn in wagons, and ate hearty food. do barbecue
PEER PRINCIPLE:  See p. 18-20 in your textbook
Plan
Engage
Explore
Reflect

-During your excursion you will document the experience using the cycle of curiosity and the PEER Principle.

-The excursion experience needs to be documented as though you are giving others a ‘tour’ or ‘telling the story’ of the experience. Readers of the documentation will need to ‘see’ and ‘hear/read’ about the experience from the beginning to the end and your learning much be clearly explained.

EXAMPLE
PLEASE NOTE***The following gives some written ideas/examples; however, it is NOT THE WAY to do this assignment. The examples are to give you an overall sense of the assignment without providing a full and visual ‘copy’ or ‘format’.  Use your own ideas and creativity!

A. Plan/Exploration: I will go to Sheep River Falls and explore the area.  In this section, I would include images of where I intend to go…this is where students must do some research and include website links, images, and other information.
Sheep River Falls:
https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/sheep-river-pp/information-facilities/day-use/sheep-falls/

B. Wonderment and Questions
EXAMPLES: What will I discover at the falls? [I hope to find powerful water that I can discover through my senses]
How will I interact with nature during my hike?  [I hope I can touch, smell, taste, see, and hear many different things]
Why is this important?  [According to B. Dietze and D. Kashin [2019], “The outdoor play environment is one of the most important spaces and places for children to learn; to connect with people and with nature; and to develop socially, emotional, cognitively, physically, and spiritually (Ergler, Kearns, Witten, & Porter, 2016)” p. 21.  As an educator, I need to value the outdoors so that I take children outdoors willingly!]

C.Engage/Experiment and Discovery: In your documentation include what you did during your exploration.  For example, at Sheep River falls I hiked down to the water to touch the water and I touched the water.  It was very cold.  I  listened to the falls and recorded the sounds I heard. The water has power and the sound demonstrates it. I threw a rock into the water  and then I threw a stick   Can I follow the route either object takes? [include photos/video/and a quote about discoveries in the outdoors]

D. Explore/ Repetition to test discovery: I explored the area more and this is what I discovered…I then threw a leaf, a twig, a small pebble and a larger rock into the water to test my discoveries. [include visuals/quote]

E. New Ideas, Skills and Learning: What did I take away from this experience?  I learned about the power of water, how water looks, sounds, tastes and I learned about the properties of natural materials in water. [include visuals/quote]

F. Confidence and Security: I feel more confident about visiting natural areas like Sheep River Falls.  I learned that I am capable of walking on large rocks and on uneven surfaces; however, I still need more practice to feel more confident and secure during these more ‘adventurous’ excursions. [include visuals/quote]

G. Reflect/ New Questions and Ideas: What did I learn, what have I gained from this experience?  Water has power and beauty; however, it demands respect as it can also be dangerous.  I would like to visit the falls in each season to see how the area changes and adapts to new weather.  Does the water change colour when the temperature is warm, windy, rainy, snowy?  When does the water freeze, if ever?  What animals live in and near the water? [include visuals/quote]

3: ASSIGNMENT FORMAT

Each section of the Cycle of Inquiry must be used.  Use quotes from the textbook. A total of at least THREE quotes must be used.

Excursion demonstrates that the student[s] took on a challenge, spent time in the outdoors, and explained fully why the excursion was chosen and what they hope to gain from the experience.

Reference

Dietze, B., & Kashin, D. (2019). Outdoor and nature play in early childhood education. Pearson Canada.

ANSWER

Discovering the Joys of Fish Creek in Calgary: A Journey of Outdoor Learning and Exploration

Introduction

Children have an innate right to experience the wonders of outdoor play and exploration. As an educator, I understand the value of outdoor excursions in fostering holistic development in children. For this assignment, I embarked on an outdoor adventure with a group of kids to Fish Creek, Calgary. The excursion aimed to provide an enriching experience for the children and myself while embracing the PEER Principle – Plan, Engage, Explore, and Reflect.

Plan/Exploration

Fish Creek, a natural park in Calgary, was chosen for the excursion. The park offered a diverse range of experiences, from mud play to wagon rides and even a barbecue. We researched the park in advance, gathering information and images to prepare for our adventure.

PEER Quote: According to Dietze and Kashin (2019), “The outdoor play environment is one of the most important spaces and places for children to learn; to connect with people and with nature; and to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, and spiritually” (p. 21).

Wonderment and Questions

As we set out for Fish Creek, I wondered what discoveries lay ahead for the children and me. I hoped to witness the powerful water and experience it through our senses. Additionally, I questioned how we would interact with nature during our time at the park.

PEER Quote: “Children have a right to experience the joys and wonders that outdoor play can bring. There is a whole exciting world to discover, and we owe it to children to share it with them” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 9).

Engage/Experiment and Discovery

Upon arriving at Fish Creek, the children were excited to explore. We hiked down to the water’s edge and touched the cold water, feeling its power as it flowed through our fingers. We recorded the soothing sounds of the falls, showcasing the water’s strength. Experimenting, we threw rocks and sticks into the water, observing their paths.

PEER Quote: “Children’s explorations of nature are self-motivated and curiosity-driven. As educators, we can support children’s explorations by providing the time, space, and materials needed to encourage their curiosity and learning” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 18).

Explore/Repetition to test discovery

Continuing our exploration, we repeated our experiments with different objects like leaves, twigs, pebbles, and larger rocks. This allowed us to reaffirm our discoveries about the water’s movement and power.

PEER Quote: “Play is vital for children’s development as it provides opportunities for learning, social interactions, creativity, and problem-solving” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 20).

New Ideas, Skills, and Learning

Through our outdoor play, we gained a deep understanding of the power and beauty of water. We learned how water looks, sounds, and even tastes. Moreover, we discovered the properties of various natural materials when they interacted with water.

PEER Quote: “Outdoor play provides children with opportunities to explore, experiment, and learn about the natural world and their place within it” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 20).

Confidence and Security

As the excursion progressed, the children grew more confident in navigating natural terrains like walking on large rocks and uneven surfaces. However, they acknowledged that further practice would make them even more secure during such adventurous excursions.

PEER Quote: “Outdoor play contributes to the development of children’s physical skills, including coordination, balance, and spatial awareness” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 20).

Reflect/New Questions and Ideas

The experience at Fish Creek left us in awe of the water’s power and beauty, but also taught us to respect its potential dangers. Inspired by the changing seasons, we wished to revisit the falls to witness how the area adapts to different weather conditions. Questions arose about the water’s color variations under varying temperatures and its freezing patterns.

PEER Quote: “Outdoor play experiences also provide opportunities for children to develop their creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills” (Dietze and Kashin, 2019, p. 20).

Conclusion

Our excursion to Fish Creek in Calgary was an eye-opening experience for both the children and myself. The Cycle of Curiosity and the PEER Principle guided us throughout, providing a framework for a meaningful and engaging outdoor adventure. Witnessing the children’s excitement and wonder reinforced the importance of outdoor play and exploration in nurturing their holistic development. By immersing ourselves in nature, we discovered the joys and wonders it brings, solidifying our commitment to share these experiences and values with children for years to come.