Outdoor Activities

        Growing seeds in a classroom is an important activity.  However, for children to truly appreciate the power of the sun and the natural world, they need to be able to actively plant and reap the benefits of their labors.  The Peabody Early Childhood Center is currently engaged in a project to develop a schoolyard habitat on the formerly asphalt urban playground.  We have had many organizations support this effort, and most significantly, we receive the support and technical assistance of the National Wildlife Federation, School Yard Habitat Project, our community partner in International Public Science Day 2002  (see:  The Project Team:  National Wildlife Federation).  Teachers have been trained by the NWF not only in the creation of a schoolyard habitat but also the integration of the outdoor area with the classroom instruction.  Following are some examples of how our children are involved in outdoor activities in support of the curriculum.

Working in the Garden:  The school family together

Click here to go to CHCS PTA newsletter with announcements regarding opportunities to work in our schoolyard habitat!

Habitat Walks

   We are also fortunate to have Stanton Park across the street from the school.  This park gives us more opportunities to observe nature at work.  We took a walk to find clues of the food chain at work.  

     You can see the excitement of the children as they find insect-eaten leaves, chestnuts, acorns and other evidence of the food chain.  They also drew some pictures of what we saw.

An eaten chestnut.	Finding seeds	Examining leaves for insect feeding
Exposed bulbs	Looking for insects in the tree bark.	Evidence of a bird
Was this flower eaten by bugs?	Was this nut eaten by squirrels?	I'm sure I saw a spider in there!

A butterfly to a flower	A leaf with some flowers with some holes it in"	"I'm trying to get the acorn before the squirrel gets it."

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