In Mud: Nature-Based Early Childhood Workshop

TETON SCIENCE SCHOOLS In Mud: Nature-Based Early Childhood Workshop April 23rd, 2022

www.tetonscience.org 307.733.1313

Learning is in our nature

AGENDA 8:45-9 Check-in @ TSS Jackson Campus 700 Coyote Canyon Road, Jackson, WY 9-9:45 Welcome & Keynote 9:45-10:15 Discussion 10:15-10:30 Break 10:30-11:15 Drive the Teton Pass to Victor - TSS Mountain Academy Teton Valley Campus Optional transportation provided 11:15-12:15 Workshop Session #1 12:15-1 Lunch 1-2 Workshop Session #2 2-3 Workshop Session #3 3-3:15 Closing 3:30 Load buses back to Jackson Campus

Keynote Address Building Early Connections to Our Food Through giving children early connections to the story of their food and building strong foundations in place we can build a sense of community and agency in our classrooms. As educators we are called to create meaningful placebased learning grounded in authentic experiences for our students, by bringing farm to early childhood learning we can connect both theory and practice and cultivate a sense of joy and wonder for all learners. Join Jed Norris, Early Education Program Coordinator at Shelburne Farms for storytelling-drawing from his own experiences in teaching. Jed brings over 18 years of creating experiences for young learners in both rural and urban communities. He will weave stories of Reggio-inspired and farm-based learning together with strategies for bringing a farm to early childhood lens to your classroom, community, and to your plates.

Jed Norris Jed Norris is the early education program coordinator at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont where he has the opportunity to spend many of his days tromping through the forest looking for salamanders, making mud-based meals in the mud kitchen, building forts, making bread and butter to snack on, meeting farm animals, and driving tractors. Prior to working at Shelburne Farms Jed spent time as a program director for a birth to age five center based program and several years as an infant/toddler teacher at the UVM Campus Children’s School where he had the opportunity to visit the amazing schools of Reggio Emilia. Throughout all of these experiences Jed has brought an interest and intention to connecting children to the story of the food we eat and advocating for the importance of our farming community and the capabilities of young children. Jed grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont and has many fond memories of being a free range kid doing a lot of the things he is still getting a chance to do both at work and at home with his own two children.

The Studio is a Laboratory for Thinking

Erin Solomon, facilitator I Workshop Session #1 & #3

Experience multiple provocations to see how children’s thinking can be transformed through new perspectives. We will use flowers in bloom to investigate through light and shadow, painting, sculpture, and fabric.

The Magic of Movable Materials

Erin Tanzer, facilitator I Workshop Session #2 & #3

Play and ponder with loose parts outside. Explore how open-ended materials can be added to your outdoor play space to support children’s learning and foster “sense of place” development.

The Story of Bread and Butter Jed Norris, facilitator I Workshop Session #1 & #3

We will be working with our hands to transform a collection of ingredients into bread and then we will top it off with some freshly made butter. While we work we will be adding depth to the food story of these two staples and sharing strategies for how to bring this story into your classroom.

Exploring in the Garden and Farm Katie Rose Griffith, facilitator I Workshop Session #1 & #2

Come explore the garden and farm with us! This session includes harvesting, making garden snacks, singing, storytelling, garden caretaking, garden crafts, and exploration of the natural world.

Building Fires with Children: A Tale of Risks, Mistakes, and Triumphs!

Lulu Orne, facilitator Workshop Session #1 & #2

Gather ‘round the fire to hear a story of how the TVC Preschool has welcomed fire into our culture and community. After storytelling we’ll delve into hands-on exploration with open fire cooking, sensory play, and some plein air artwork.

An Exploration of Wool and Felting Paige Fisher, facilitator Workshop Session #2 & #3

Come explore wool with us. Learn how to wash and card wool in order to spin it into yarn as well as felt wool into balls. We will explore how materials such as wool can be used to creatively add to classroom materials and further connect children to their place.