#ItsNotRecess, Snow Edition

If you check out Red Oak’s social media page, you’ll find the hashtag #itsnotrecess on quite a few of them. The time our students spend outside in the play area is so much more than recess; it’s a chance for them to develop real-world skills like flexible thinking, teamwork, and problem solving skills. The time is supervised by teachers but the plans and projects are kid-led. The students have the time to create games, refine rules, daydream up in a tree, take considered risks, or engineer structures. These past two weeks have provided a new medium in which to practice all these necessary skills: snow!

The first set of comparative experiments came with deciding what you could do with the type of snow we got. 

Was it able to be compacted for making snowballs or snow sculptures? 

Was it too powdery to throw, and better for making snow showers? 

What happens when a layer of ice is added? 

How can you still slide down the bridge once the ice melts? 

What else can you use a sled for? Which ones go down the slides best? 

What else can you sled off of? 

How can you get one kid to pull a sled filled with snow and another kid?

With two hours of outside time each day, the students are able to develop their hypotheses, test them out, and then adjust as needed to achieve the desired outcome. And all this problem solving was driven by play!

Usually there are at least two classes combined during outside learning time. This year, however, we had to get creative and find a way to divide the space to cut down on classes mixing. But even with the extra precautions, Red Oak students have found a way to collaborate! “Snow Mountain” is what the students began calling the mound of snow that got piled up along our field by the plows from the parking lot. After going over the boundaries and safety measures needed to keep them away from the parking lot, each class got to work on carving out parts of the mound! Holes were started, then deepened by subsequent classes. Tunnels were made and forts were reinforced. Sitting spots were scooped by older students, then used as penguin nests by younger students who were hatching their snow eggs. After an arch fell from a tunnel, other students turned the spot into a shelter and then a sled run.  

Problem-solving, eagerness to try new things, teamwork, determination, and flexibility were all practiced and refined during outdoor learning time.  #ItsNotRecess indeed!

-Maureen Alley, ROCS Educator