Adventures in Pre-K: Frogging at Vineyard Hill

Shore’s Pre-K students had a wonderful time on their latest wilderness adventure. With the help of the S.A.I.L. (Science and Art Integrated Learning) team, Mrs. Holland and Mrs. Codding, Shore’s youngest students took an enriching trip up the road to the Vineyard Hill Reservation. The journey was not only a huge hit with students, but was a valuable and formative experience for the children as they learned more about the world around them. This courageous step into the outside environment was not only a great example of Shore’s emphasis on outdoor learning but has a direct tie-in to the Reggio Emilia-inspired learning approach, which our talented Pre-K teachers, Mrs. Keith and Mrs. White, use inside of the classroom and out.

After a quick stroll through the woods, students and teachers found themselves at a picturesque frog pond in the middle of the reservation. There was a beautiful stone bridge bisecting the pond, which the students were especially fond of. The group stopped here to observe their surroundings, taking the time to catch small animals in buckets and with nets, with each discovery prompting boundless curiosity and entertainment for the young explorers. Next, students took a moment to appreciate the peaceful landscape around them, painting bright and colorful pictures of the stone bridge and the pond. “I tried to make the colors of the pond in my picture,” said Edward C., mixing the blues and greens on his palette to create a lovely shade of aquamarine. To complete their journey, students went on a hike, identifying different species of flora and fauna surrounding them on their travels as well as interesting anomalies in the wildlife. Finally, after a long day, the group returned to Shore to finish their day.

This was an engaging activity for our Pre-K students, who stepped up to the challenge and were fearless in a completely new environment. Their curiosity shined through, and the day was full of special moments of discovery which not only continued on the trajectory of their curriculum but provided a unique and authentic way to shape the young learners’ perspective about the world around them.