Environment as the third Teacher- Reggio Emilia

If you have stepped into our classroom this year, you will notice the great attention that is given to the look and feel of it.

Each of the centers in our classroom are thoughtfully designed and prepared by all of us as a group, in collaboration with other early childhood professionals to optimize small and larger group interaction, social learning and constructive play.

In the Reggio Emilia school of thought, it often refers to the environment as the "third teacher." The classroom environment plays a crucial role in the learning/teaching process.

 When thinking about how we would introduce the children to the creations of day #3 (plants, trees, earth...) we couldn't think of a more appropriate place to go...
Being outdoors, sitting on the grass, feeling the breeze, watching the leaves blow, hearing the sounds of nature...gave the children a real feeling for the "awesomeness" of the creations!

We asked the children what they could find that was "growing" or "alive." The discussion took us all around the outside of our school!

 We found different colored and shaped leaves...

 Children noticed the fuzzy feel of Lavender. (It's color and texture too!)

We decided to bring the outdoors in.... and each child picked seeds for a vegetable- that we planted in an indoor planter box! (Thank you FoodShare for giving us seeds last year!)
We walked around our classroom, and together found an appropriate spot to keep our plants! Where sun can reach....

Looking forward to enjoying peas, corn, parsley, sprouts, and more ...once they have sprouted...and we can transfer them to our outdoor planter!