Recess Exploration Boxes

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Recess
Exploration Boxes

Our school yard is brimming with life. Our plan is to use recess as an opportune time to explore both the immediately visible and the ‘harder to find’ habitats of our school yard creatures. Our school has created Exploration Boxes filled with items that aid in observation such as magnifying glasses, field glasses, sketch pads, slides and microscopes etc.

Science oriented, parent volunteers have taken a short webinar to learn more about field investigations. They bring the boxes out twice weekly, during recess and guide the children to observe the natural world around them. This increased awareness improves observation skills, as well as appreciation and sensitivity to nature.

Parent volunteers have noted how excited some children are to have an alternative activity to the physical activities typical on a school playground. Many children simply enjoy learning about the equipment, but it is sweet to notice how much fun they have teaching each other about what they learn. This is an endeavor that has provided many unexpected dividends, not the least of which was honoring the naturalistic areas of interest and inclination among our student population.