nature
schooling inspired by
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esearch shows that during the first five years of life, a child’s brain develops more dramatically than at any other time. Habits that children adopt in the early years tend to last a lifetime. Although some traditional preschools tout their offerings with advertisements of four-year-olds carrying briefcases, critics warn that young children learn most effectively through play. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, proposes a remedy for the detrimental effects caused by well-meaning parents who keep their children busy with enrichment activities from dawn till dusk: unstructured playtime outdoors. He states in his book, “New studies suggest that exposure to nature may reduce the symptoms of ADHD, and that it can improve all children’s cognitive abilities and resistance to negative stress and depression.”
kyle chesser
by Jennifer Moscatello
Jennifer Jeffcoat and her young students take a nature walk in Saratoga Springs.
This article was published in Eucalyptus Magazine, December 2009.
Sunanda Rangarajan oversees as her daughter makes Indian flatbread during a school lesson.
Preschool students at The Spirit of Play paint the pottery bowls they made the week before.
walls. Handmade pottery bowls and cups, crafted by the children, rest on a wooden table. The morning begins with circle time, in which Jeffcoat leads the children through seasonal songs. They recap their adventure on a nearby farm the previous day. Threeyear-old Kyan says, “I enjoyed picking the grapes. I love grapes!” Stretching and counting exercises follow, as the children reach upward to pluck imaginary lemons off an imaginary tree. Mondays are spent outdoors, often at nearby Saratoga Springs. Once a month, the children visit Live Earth Farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which provides hands-on opportunities to learn about organic gardening. Jeffcoat says, “My vision is to build a community school where children can be fully present and awake with life, a place that enables them to truly play and keep their imagination awake, while being present in the beauty that nature has to offer.” Her vision for the school is a serene, restful space created in part by the families who attend. She’s planning a painting party for parents, where they’ll spend time decorating the walls with warm hues. In the yard, a solitary lemon tree resides, but Jeffcoat pulls out the plans for an L-shaped container garden to be planted with kale, chard, and carrots. Her long-term goal is for the school to become self-sustainable, generating income at farmers’ markets through the sale of handmade herbal salves, children’s artwork, and garden vegetables. Parents choose to send their children to a school like The Spirit of Play for a variety of reasons. For many, the focus on the natural world is a huge draw. Nicole Rossi of Los Gatos says, “It’s really important for me to give [my son] Nicholas that same connection with nature that I grew up with... I think it’s unfortunate that many children have lost that.” Others, like Sunanda Rangarajan of San Jose, appreciate the curriculum variety and the chance to play a part in their child’s schooling. “I wanted a place where I could be with my daughter, and I just love the Waldorf way of teaching,” she says. “I want her to take things slowly and learn to appreciate nature and cooking. I know she’s going to learn the other things in years to come. I really want her to be well rounded, rather than just focusing on academics. The parents help out here and are involved in the school. My child doesn’t have a fear of going to school. She’s learning to appreciate twigs and rocks and touching things in nature and painting leaves. I really like that for her.” The Spirit of Play, 14103 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga; 408.891.3751.
kyle chesser
Many preschools incorporate unstructured outdoor play into their curriculum. Waldorf schools, originated by Austrian philosopher and scientist Rudolf Steiner in the early 1900s, have traditionally embraced nature. At its essence, Waldorf teaching strives to educate the child in a holistic sense: through the head, hands, and heart. The goal of Waldorf teachers is to inspire curiosity and a profound love of learning in their students. Interest in this type of alternative education has increased, and schools have cropped up to fill the void. A new school in Saratoga, The Spirit of Play, opened in September 2009. Inspired in part by Waldorf philosophy, the program is influenced by founder Jennifer Jeffcoat’s background as a physical education teacher at Los Gatos High School. What she saw during her tenure there concerned her. “So many children seem lost…they don’t have a sense of self,” she says. Such observations led her first to study healing through movement, and later to enroll at the Rudolf Steiner College in Los Altos, where she is beginning her second year of study. Soft music plays in Jeffcoat’s light-filled classroom. Pinecones and dried sunflowers brighten the room; children’s art adorns the
class offerings at The Spirit of Play
Natural Nursery Workshop I & II Ah, the smell of formaldehyde in the morning! New paint, new baby furniture and new carpeting fill your baby nursery. You can imagine your future little one peacefully sleeping in this room, a plastic mobile singing lullabies above his head, a foam mattress gently supporting him underneath, and a pressed wood crib holding him secure. Then you have to step out of the room and go to bed yourself, because of a headache or the onset of fatigue. It must be all the work going into building and filling the nursery… or it could be all the chemicals given off in the new room. This is a wonderful workshop that will connect you with like-minded parents who understand the importance of our child’s world. Workshop I n Why it’s so important to make sure your baby’s nursery is chemical free. n Why organic mattresses are the most important investment you can make for your baby. n Why there’s so much controversy about carpet. n What are VOCS, how are they affecting your baby’s nursery and how your can get rid of them. Workshop II n What you need to know before you use any household cleaners n Making homemade cleaners n Toy making n Your Nursery Design Nature Doctors (5-11 yrs) In this class, we'll grow an Herb Garden with the children. Children will begin pointing out all the wild edible and medicinal plants that grow all around us. We will make wonder remedies for bee stings, scraped knees, and burns, and learn how herbs heal. Children will also learn which plants not to eat or touch. All plants we use are easy to care for and fun to use. When involving kids in the process of picking the plants and preparing them, they will discover herbs are healing for them and will often go seek them during times of imbalance. Many children who are exposed to herbs in this way will go to the garden and pick some chamomile when they have an upset stomach or ask for catnip tea when feverish. This helps children tune into their environment, connect with their surroundings and themselves.
Nature Doctors (2.5-5 yrs Parent and Child) In this class, we'll grow an Herb Garden with the children. Children will begin pointing out all the wild edible and medicinal plants that grow all around us. We will make wonder remedies for bee stings, scraped knees, and burns, and learn how herbs heal. Children will also learn which plants not to eat or touch. All plants we use are easy to care for and fun to use. When involving kids in the process of picking the plants and preparing them, they will discover herbs are healing for them and will often go seek them during times of imbalance. Many children who are exposed to herbs in this way will go to the garden and pick some chamomile when they have an upset stomach or ask for catnip tea when feverish. This helps children tune into their environment, connect with their surroundings and themselves. Outdoor School (1-5 yrs Parent and Child) A place where kids can see, hear, touch, smell, and even taste nature. We use Natural Living Ways™ curriculum, held at Saratoga Springs. It’s a place where they can learn about themselves, their natural environment, and their peers while participating in fun and educational outdoor activities. There’s something for every age and every interest that will help your child grow by facing challenges, overcoming their fears and doing things they never imagined they would. Outdoor School (5-12 yrs) A place where kids can see, hear, touch, smell, and even taste nature. We use Natural Living Ways™ curriculum, held at Saratoga Springs. It’s a place where they can learn about themselves, their natural environment, and their peers while participating in knitting, art, cooking, woodworks, photography and nature-oriented educational activities. There’s something for every age and every interest that will help your child grow by facing challenges, overcoming their fears and doing things they never imagined they would!
Class Offerings at The Spirit of Play PeaceJam Club (5-11 and 11-14 yrs) The PeaceJam Foundation provides five curricular programs that explore the stories of 12 Nobel Peace Laureates and the ways they overcame problems in their communities. Youth study the personal experiences of these amazing world leaders and then engage in servicelearning activities that address local needs. PeaceJam programs combine: 1) Standards based literacy, civics, and geography content, 2) leadership development, 3) service-learning, 4) conflict resolution, and 5) character development. PeaceJam Juniors Curriculum is an exciting program for ages 5 to 11 that introduces young students to the lives and work of Nobel Peace Laureates in an age-appropriate, standards-based format. Through this age-appropriate curriculum, youth explore Character Education, Conflict Resolution, Service-Learning, Citizenship and Multicultural Education. PeaceJam Leaders Curriculum is a standards-based curriculum for young people between the ages of 11 and 14. It explores the adolescent stories of 12 Nobel Peace Laureates and the strategies they used to overcome problems in their lives and their communities. Through this age-appropriate curriculum, youth explore their own identities and reexamine the choices they make, including their role models and the peer groups to which they belong. Youth also develop leadership and problem-solving skills while engaging in service-learning activities that address local needs. Smart By Nature (6-11 and 6-14 yrs) In schooling for sustainability, The Smart by Nature™ curriculum for young people connects students with the natural world and human communities through project-based learning. This inspires them to learn more because they recognize that the knowledge is essential to something they care about. They also learn that they can make a difference, which lays a foundation for responsible, active citizenship. We will work on building a Community Supported Agriculture program, with the children learning about planting, harvesting, and the processes required to run a sustainable business. The children will also make presentations in their community and work closely with the Ecoliteracy Center in Berkeley. The Smart by Nature Initiative is based on four guiding principles: n Nature Is Our Teacher n Rooted in a Deep Knowledge of Place n Sustainability Is a Community Practice n Sustainable Living Is n The Real World Is the Optimal Learning Environment.
Spirit Of Play-Sunflowers (4-5 yrs) This is a wonderful parent participation social integrated playgroup, which helps facilitate the child through development of reciprocal social interaction, communication, play, behavioral and imagination. The Spirit of Play works with opening the child’s heart through a movement educational realm, which teaches parents to work with the child by showing how to observe postural and behavioral cues. Our Sprit of Play social integrated playgroup is a Waldorf inspired curriculum that will allow the parent to help the child accomplish goals in life with greater ease and beauty through nature, movement, gardening, handwork, cooking and music. This program meets 2 days a week and every Monday. Both Sprouting Roots and Sunflowers join together for a Nature Walk on trails and parks in the area. Spirit Of Play-Sprouting Roots (1-3 yrs) This is a wonderful parent participation social integrated playgroup, which helps facilitate the child through development of reciprocal social interaction, communication, play, behavioral and imagination. The Spirit of Play works with opening the child’s heart through a movement educational realm, which teaches parents to work with the child by showing how to observe postural and behavioral cues. Our Sprit of Play social integrated playgroup is a Waldorf-inspired curriculum that will allow the parent to help the child accomplish goals in life with greater ease and beauty through nature, movement, gardening, handwork, cooking and music. This program meets 2 days a week and every Monday. Both Sprouting Roots and Sunflowers join together for a Nature Walk on trails and parks in the area. Please contact us for more detailed information or to register for classes. The Spirit of Play 14103 Saratoga Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Phone: 408.891.3751 Email: akidztime@yahoo.com