Ecology Class – Back to the Woods!
Students from all Elementary classes enjoyed returning to the Montessori Woods for Ecology classes – perhaps because Mr. Juleff lets them ‘explore’ for a few minutes at the end! All part of enabling the students to feel comfortable in nature and to enjoy the health benefits of being in nature.
Lower and Upper Elementary Ecology Goals
To create learning experiences that allow the student to:
- understand the interdependence between people and nature
- have the knowledge and skills to positively communicate ideas on environmental issues to peers and family, at an appropriate level
- develop skills to enable them to undertake simple research and auditing related to ecology
And, most importantly…
- have a love of nature and feel comfortable in the outdoors.
Our goals are based on the Montessori philosophy. Dr. Montessori herself said, “There must be provision for the child to have contact with Nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in Nature …. so the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates .”
Modern research supports this approach and informs how we teach Ecology. We’ll spend as much time as possible outside in the vegetable garden, in our own woods, and visiting Marchese Family Farm, our Farm to School program partner. Experience shows that the students love being outside and greatly benefit from it.
We follow the National Wildlife Federation Eco-schools program, focusing on Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Sustainable Food.
Please ensure your child has appropriate clothing and footwear at school for going outside in (almost) every type of weather. 
