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Click the photos below to read our newsletters for what our participants were learning about and exploring in that particular week or session.
A Day on the Farm- This week we practiced different roles as we welcomed our friends from Encompass Community for Independent Learners. The Elements kids were able to be the guides or teachers to our new friends visiting. We practiced sharing our guidelines in a kind and helpful manner. Each child in the Elements program had a moment where they were able to share something they have learned while here at Elements.
Read MoreWelcome to Elements Nature Program! Through discussion and modeling, we define expectations of being on a working farm and functioning as a group of individuals. Learn about our guidelines and take a peek at our nature lessons!
Read MoreWildflowers, Insects & The Water Cycle- Campers identified what makes an insect an insect with songs, art, and live specimens. We found bugs under rocks and logs. Bees in the clovers. Butterflies in the field and moths on the lichen-covered trees.
Read MoreTree Identifications & Food Chains- The children identified oak, maple & cedar (juniper) trees by observing leaves, bark, and fruit. Using our senses of sight and touch we noticed differences in leaf shape and bark texture. They loved looking for signs and creating stories about the relationships between predators and prey.
Read MorePlanting the Garden- we finished prepping our garden and planted the first of our summer crops: peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, watermelon, husk cherries, herbs, calendula, and sunflowers. The children helped harvest some crops with the RTB Team. They also measured the distance between plants, thought about how long it would take for fruit and vegetables to ripen and planned for the next round of planting.
Read MoreGeography: Inside & Out- “A sense of place comes from a feeling of connectedness, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, to a specific geographic area (Relph 1976). Developing a sense of place through geographic experiences helps build the social and emotional foundation children need and will one day use as adults." (Young Children, 2015, Vol. 70, No. 3)
Read MoreLove & Trees- We celebrated love by thinking about how love feels, what it looks like, and how we can show love for different people and things. In addition to Valentine's making, the children demonstrated love and caring for the Earth by cleaning up litter.
Read MoreWeather Patterns- This week we dove deeper into why certain weather patterns occur, did some experiments, asked lots of questions, and discussed what we like about rain, snow, and wind!
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