What is Kwata kets'adan ku?
Hidden Valley Elementary takes a Place Based approach to learning. This means that children spend a a significant amount of time learning the curriculum through outdoor, hands-on activities and projects in the forest and natural environment. Kwata kets'adan ku, which refers to "Bush School" in southern tutchone, encompass the place-based outdoor learning that Hidden Valley Elementary teachers strive to create.
Place-based education is a revamped "concept" woven into the new curriculum redesign. Place-based education refers to learning experiences that are adapted to the local environment and/or individual context. It places students within the local heritage, culture, and natural environment of their community or school grounds, and uses these concepts as the foundation for teaching mathematics, language arts, and other subject areas across the curriculum. Place-based education is an extension of the classroom. It is a reciprocal process whereby the curriculum is taken into the natural environment and the natural environment is brought into the classroom. Teaching is purposeful and planned. Scaffolding has been put in place to establish expectations for being outdoors and respecting the environment and each other. |
What you need to know about Kwata kets'adan ku?
Hidden Valley scaffolds outdoor learning beginning in kindergarten and progressing up to grade 7. This means that Kindergarten students will learn basic outdoor activities, such as packing a back pack to go for a walk and spending time outside learning close to the school. With each sequential grade the learning expectations outside will increase, along with the complexity of the activities and excursions The goal is that each grade will build upon students previous outdoor skills and knowledge so that by the time they get to grade 7, they are confident and comfortable being outside and learning when they partake in multi-night camps!
Preparation
Kindergarten students will be engaged in learning outdoors on a daily bases. In order to learn and enjoy in the natural environment students need to be prepared:
- come dressed appropriately each day (please click on the "layers" file below)
- bring additional outdoor gear reflective of the season: rain gear, sun screen, mitts, hat, snow suit, etc.
- large healthy lunch and snacks - NUT free. The fresh air builds healthy appetites.
- good foot wear
- change of clothes
- water bottle
- a good nights sleep
- a smile and readiness for fun outside!
layers.docx | |
File Size: | 401 kb |
File Type: | docx |