Environment as the Third Teacher
Natural, diverse, stimulating materials and loose parts are set up within a quality environment for children to form their own hypothesis, test their theories, and make discoveries autonomously with guidance from their educator.
Provocations
Open-ended activities and arrangement of materials that encourage imagination, curiosity, wonder, and creativity.
Outdoor Play
Spending at least an hour each day outdoors rain or shine develops a love and appreciation for nature early on – don’t forget about the endless benefits it comes with!
Sustaining the Earth
Composting, recycling, and reducing waste is practiced on a daily basis and used materials are repurposed whenever they can be such as into art pieces.
Other ways to learn about sustaining the environment include spending time out in nature to learn about the natural world, gardening, reading various books, and leading by example.
Emergent Curriculum
Children are viewed as curious and competent with a desire to be hands-on when it comes to their own learning.
Once children’s interests are observed, educators develop lesson plans which gradually become more and more complex to develop their understanding.
Fun Fact: Did you know that by building on a child’s interest, it helps them feel valued and valued as an expert in their own life experiences, increases their engagement, and improves learning?
Documentation of Learning
Observing how each child may uniquely approach and interpret situations, activities, provocations, and experiences differently.
Children’s thoughts and development through their art, thoughts, and interaction between peers and environments are documented.
Peachy Keen Early Learning 