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| Dennis Outdoor Science Classroom |
About Our Ourdoor Classroom |
The Outdoor Science Classroom at Dennis Early Education Center provides opportunities for preschool children from throughout the district to experience nature science in both indoor and outdoor settings.
The indoor classroom includes various learning centers for children to explore:
• A forest habitat with model trees, tree blocks and forest animals of North America
• A pond habitat consisting of a floor rug with a depiction of a pond and model pond animals
• A book selection including a variety of science books on plants, animals, seasons, day and night, and weather
• A flannel board with felt insects
• A listening center with books and cassettes about nature science
• Nature exploration bins with various hands-on experiences with animal and plant models and specimens, nature sequencing cards, and nature games and puzzles
• Literacy bins including drawing and writing activities including observation checklists, animal track rubbings, drawing how insects see and making books about nature
• Planting experiences using the dirt table, grow lights and greenhouse
• Artifacts for children to observe such as honeycomb, a paperwasp nest, pinecones, a cardinal nest, feathers and deer antlers
• Animal replicas for children to notice including a squirrel, an owl, a raccoon, a cardinal, a turtle, a frog, mice, a duck, deer, a rabbit, chipmunks, bees, a woodpecker and bats
Using the Young Explorer backpacks which contain observation and documentation tools such as binoculars, magnifying lenses, clipboards and colored pencils, children can explore the many outdoor areas surrounding the school including:
The butterfly garden
The prairie
The forest
Many topics of study are available to children in the Outdoor Science Classroom
through the use of big books, children’s books, posters, artifacts, models, and video
and audio cassettes including:
Forces such as magnetism, sinking and floating and movement
Technology including tools and machines
Scientists
Senses including sound, light and matter
Earth sciences such as rocks and soil, and water
Day and Night
Seasons
Plants such as trees, pumpkins and vegetable gardens
Animals including spiders, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, camouflage, and nocturnal animals
Habitats such as ponds, trees, grass and wetlands
Life Cycles, for example, butterflies, sunflowers, and apple trees
Environmental issues such as garbage and recycling
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the outdoor areas!
Volunteers are needed to:
Maintain the butterfly garden including weeding and mulching
Donate plants for the butterfly garden
Maintain the prairie
Monitor the forest path and clear it of debris
Identify plants in all areas and help create identification signs
Upgrade the greenhouse so it can be used year-round including heat and ventilation
Help establish a wildflower garden
If you are interested in helping to maintain the beauty of the outdoor areas please contact Dennis Early Education Center at 966-3750.
Thank you for your support!!!
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