A Day In The Life
Time for learning, exploring, connecting & RECHARGING.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
8:45 - 9:00AM
ARRIVAL
Upon arrival, students stow their backpacks and solve the morning brain game.
These challenges consist of word plays, math questions, logic puzzels, and scientific investigation.
9:00AM
MORNING MEETING
Morning meeting takes place at the circle in the Nature Center yard. Students and staff greet each other in various way; funny voices, different languages, etc. The daily greeting is chosen by the group leader of the week. After morning greeting, the day’s schedule and plan is discussed and the morning’s brain game reviewed.
9:15AM
OUTDOOR STEM LAB
Tap maple trees: tree id; trunk circumference & tap placements (personal references vs standard measurements); layers of a tree; depth of taps).
10:30AM
CREATIVE CONCEPTS
Nature Art: plan & sketch your maple tree design. Will you create with paper, clay, wood, paints, etc.? What aspects of the tree will you include and why?
11:30AM
LUNCH/FREE PLAY
12:15PM
LITERACY IN NATURE
Share poems and prose about maple trees and sugaring from various cultures. Continue writing your own poetry or short story.
1:00PM
NATURAL HISTORY
Investigate tools used for sugaring over centuries, how the process and product have evolved over time. Tour Bushy Hill Sugar Shack & assist with boiling/bottling.
1:45PM
ENVIRONMENTAL ED
Fire Challenge: Prepare your firepit; using bow drills and teamwork, create a coal to start your fire.
2:15PM
SOCIAL IMPACT
Sustainability: Visit the farm to check on worm compost system and to turn the outdoor compost.
2:45PM
CLOSING CIRCLE
Guiding questions: What was the "rose" of your day and why? What is your "bud" for tomorrow (what are you looking forward to)? Pass the IALAC bead to acknowledge random acts of kindness from today.
