Compass Outdoor Education

Level 1 Program

Compass Outdoor Education - Level 1 Fall Semester

Date: September 10th 2022 to December 17th 2022

Time: 9:30-11:30am, 12:30-2:30pm, 2:40-4:40pm

Date of Birth: 2019 to 2020

  • Term 1

    Students will learn to make exploratory observations using their different senses. Students will begin to distinguish key features of living and nonliving things in our natural environment. Students will be able to explore the different features of plants and animals.

  • Term 2

    Students will learn to interpret the local winter environment and explore how patterns and cycles occur in the sky and landscapes of the greater Vancouver area. The focus for this term will be to learn about natural and artificial sources of light, sound and forces.

  • Term 3

    Students learn animals and plants have features and behaviours that help them survive in different environments. Students are introduced to concepts such as metamorphosis and the differences between offspring and parent. Through plant inquiries students will be able to identify the names of local plants, as well as compare the features of various plants.

  • Term 4

    Students learn insects have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment and respond to different stimuli. Students will discuss how water is essential for all living things to survive through the exploration of organisms in tide pool habitats.

Shape of the Day

We start our day joining together with Community Circle time. We play team building games, join in body percussion games, sing songs, participate in a gratitude ceremony and engage with daily nature!

Next, we explore the natural space and head on a Walking Challenge. Our walking-based curriculum help us develop a sense of self and social awareness while connecting with curriculum topics in the real world.

Third, we break off into learning groups. Students have the opportunity to explore topics of interest through inquiry, play and experiential based learning . Following our focused learning, we take time to slow our minds and find our Magic Sit Spots. During this time, we observe and experience the magic of nature and track it in our nature journals!

Finally, we end our day with unstructured exploratory time (e.g. arts centers, field guide challenges and design time). Students connect with friends and join in one on one instructor learning time.