Since returning from the Winter Break, Post’s Corners Public School has been using donated natural trees put up during the holidays to help Kindergarten students learn in a creative and interactive way.
Teacher Kelli White reached out to families asking that if they had set up natural trees during the holidays, would they donate them to the Oakville school for a new learning initiative. Families were supportive of the idea, so much so that White has collected a total of 33 trees that have provided students a lot of instructional fun around tasks like problem solving, and much more.
White explains the idea of bringing in trees is to find creative ways to engage students in their learning. For example, the class has been using the trees to measure distance and painting the branches for art projects.
“It helps the students connect with nature, sparks curiosity, they work collaboratively, develop their gross motor skills and use their imagination,” she says. “The trees also provide the students with opportunities to engage in deeper-level problem solving skills. This activity connects with our families as well, as they are involved in donating trees.”
Another important part of the trees initiative is students are learning about re-using items rather than discarding them as waste, White says. When the trees are ready to be discarded, she says the school plans to give them to the Royal Botanical Gardens for its project designed to
rebuild local creek channels.
“The students love exploring, creating and problem solving with our trees. They are able to use their imagination without any limits,” adds White. “Our educators have ample opportunities to respond, challenge or extend learning based on the students play.”
Principal Heather Kempff is supportive of the new initiative and is particularly moved by the community's support by donating trees.
“This has been a new experience for our Kindergarten team that has captured the students’ imagination and created many opportunities for learning and inquiry,” she says. “This couldn't have happened without our community’s support in providing the trees.”