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The Eastern Ridge School

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The Eastern Ridge School

What is a Nature-Based Approach?

Nature-Based-Preschools
Feature article in Washington Parent Magazine, July 2020
by ERS Program Director, Julie Liddle and Lead Teacher, Christina Blocksom

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-early-childhood-nature-schools-pandemic-20200925-32nr6tef7vgq5nq7haloxeunde-story.html

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If you are interested in enrolling for the school year, please contact [email protected] to arrange a tour. A virtual tour option is available.

Calendar Dates

First Day of School: Monday, August 31, 2020

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Here in the DC/Northern Virginia area, many of us Here in the DC/Northern Virginia area, many of us have been complaining that the “good snow” keeps missing us and we end up with just a coating, or more often, sleet and freezing rain. I would like a good dumping of powdery snow as much as the next guy...it’s literally been years since that has happened around here, but I will say this...this winter has provided just enough of the white stuff and just enough cold temperatures to allow school to stay open AND provide the kids with weeks on end of excellent wintertime adventures and prime sledding conditions on our North-facing hill! It also inspired our students to use their skills to solve a problem, the struggle to take off their own snow boots.They finished the prototype and are now making boot jacks for all of our classes. They work great! (And a handy parent made us a fabulous boot warmer.)#outdoorpreschool #getoutside #getoutdoors #winterwonderland #nosuchthingasbadweather #capablekids #kidswithtools #earlychildhoodeducation #handsonlearning #projectbasedlearning
These boots are made for ... walking, stomping, ju These boots are made for ... walking, stomping, jumping, footwarming, playing, adventuring, wintertime FUN. They are getting a lot of mileage. #naturebasedpreschool #outdoorpreschool #getoutside #getoutdoors #forestschool #naturebasedlearning #winter #playbasedlearning #earlychildhoodeducation
Using real tools, big and small, to do real work i Using real tools, big and small, to do real work is one way to build a sense of agency and mastery in young children. This week our preschoolers used their skills to create a solution to a daily problem by building a boot jack to help pry their boots off. Another group worked with wire, first, to hang a decorative branch to enhance their classroom, and later to create works of art. #reggioinspired #preschoolerswithtools #projectbasedlearning #handsonlearning
Loose parts from natural materials like “tree co Loose parts from natural materials like “tree cookies” big and small, inspire artful feats of engineering and design, while challenging fine and gross motor skills, problem solving, and math (in this case I observed counting, measuring, and sequencing by size). #natureinspired #loosepartsplay #looseparts #playbasedlearning #reggioinspired #outdoorpreschool #naturebasedpreschool
Um...oops? In Virginia, snowy season is pretty muc Um...oops? In Virginia, snowy season is pretty much synonymous with muddy season and two and three year olds are pretty much mud magnets! Fortunately a little “power washing” with the hose followed by a cycle in the washer and dryer and we were back in business but it was a busy day on the back end for us! Its ok to set limits and we typically reserve full body mud play for warmer days where the kids themselves can be hosed off. But once in a while, even in winter, mud happens! 😂 #outdoorpreschool #getoutside #getoutdoors #playbasedlearning #sensoryplay #winter #muddy #mudplay #muddykidsarehappykids #nosuchthingasbadweather
A winter wonderland is the perfect setting for ins A winter wonderland is the perfect setting for inspiring joy and wonder, and there was joy and wonder aplenty @easternridgeschool this week! #winterwonderland #senseofwonder #snowyday #snowydayfun #outdoorpreschool #getoutside #getoutdoors #naturebasedpreschool #tracksinthesnow #sledding
When nature provides the canvas... #snowyday #arti When nature provides the canvas... #snowyday #artinnature #naturebasedlearning #sensoryart #sensoryplay #processart #processoverproduct #preschoolSTEAM #reggioinspired #natureinspired #outdoorpreschool #getoutside
From pretending to be animals in their habitats to From pretending to be animals in their habitats to launching spaceships to gross motor challenges to shelter building...all in a day in the life of a tire @easternridgeschool #looseparts #loosepartsplay #kidsandtires #imaginativeplay #unstructuredplay #playbasedlearning
Hiking buddies and more: highlights from a week in Hiking buddies and more: highlights from a week in the life at our nature based outdoor preschool
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What is a Nature-Based Approach?
    • Preschool Forest Days
    • A Typical Day at ERS
    • Teachers and Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Our Programs
    • Parent/Child Class
    • Toddlers
    • Early Childhood
    • Extended Day
    • DRAGONFLIES: Forest Immersion Enrichment Program for Children ages 6 – 9.
    • Summer Camp
    • Distance Learning
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Is ERS Right For My Family?
    • What our parents say…
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Tuition and Fees
  • Support Us
  • Careers
  • COVID-19 Updates
  • Contact Us
    • General Inquiries
    • For Educators
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