Pre-K Frogging at Endicott Park

For Shore's youngest students, being immersed in and engaging with Shore's preferred Reggio Emilia-inspired learning approach of early education can take many shapes and forms. An importance piece is putting traditional curriculum to the side and focusing instead on hands-on, project based learning experiences which encourage the child to engage with nature and develop the child's own authentic sense of self. At the heart of the approach, children are viewed as independent thinkers, almost as researchers, and their questions and developing understandings of the world around them are used as building blocks for future learning. Children have many different experiences and learn to express themselves in many different ways.

Some of the most important moments of the year come when Pre-K students are allowed to spread their wings even further, and experience life and learning beyond the classroom. The annual frogging trip is a perfect example of this! Students travel to a new location, typically somewhere local, with wilderness, trails, and a pond, and settle in for a day of adventure. Last year, Vineyard Hill's serene beauty provided a calm scene, and students engaged in thoughtful artwork while observing the thick forest. This year, Endicott Park offered a dynamic experience. First, students took the time to meet chickens, pigs, goats, and other farm animals and learn about the history of the place. Next, the group went on an incredibly exciting frogging adventure which included catching a turtle and observing a beautiful heron. Finally, after spending time with cows and horses, awed by the animals, students headed to the fields to play. 

It was a beautiful sight to see the young learners immersed so deeply in nature, and the students' excitement was infectious.