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Fall in our Outdoor Environments

Fall in our Outdoor Environments

Toddler Outdoor Environments

Our Toddlers have been exploring their classrooms and outdoor environments with all of their senses. Our Toddler Outdoor Environments are thoughtfully prepared for the children to explore with natural materials and wild spaces to explore. Many of the materials promote gross motor skills, such as wheelbarrows, sweeping, pikler triangles, and balance beams. Additionally, works are put out for fine motor skills and concentration, similar to what would be found inside the Toddler classroom.

Children’s House Outdoor Environments

Students in our Children’s House Outdoor Environments have been immersed in a rich journey of discovery. Since the first day of school, we have been enjoying our explorations of the beautiful grounds on campus. Strolling by the dogwood trees, pine trees, fig trees, and colorful zinnias brings the children so much happiness and they are able to explore the campus with all of their senses. We were grateful to experience two weeks of rain, which welcomed an abundance of salamanders, slugs, worms, and even an amazing giant toad! The rain was a welcome gift for our plants as well. We eagerly await the stunning array of colors that autumn will unveil!

The children have been discovering the art of effectively using our garden tools, which can be quite a journey for our youngest Children’s House students. Through dedication, guidance, and the help of elders in the classroom, the children discover a passion for digging, raking, and utilizing garden tools.

With regular visits to the nature center, we enjoy feeding and engaging with Ivan, having snake-handling lessons with Nessie, and discovering the many different creatures that reside there. 

The children in the Dogwood and River Birch class have been nurturing our Oak Tree Nursery, with four white oaks grown from acorns that are thriving in pots. They also have been enjoying the process of herbal tea making, with herbs from our herb garden! Mint tea with honey is a fan favorite. 

Sit Spots

Starting in Children’s House, students participate in Sit Spots outside in all weather – a place where the child can sit for five minutes away from distractions to observe nature and enjoy time in quiet reflection. Sit spots are a way for our children to try out a new way to enjoy the world around them – observing the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of the natural world.

Elementary and Adolescent Outdoor Environments

Our Elementary and Adolescent students have been exploring the Outdoor Environments, our campus, and even venturing out to learn about the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Lower Elementary

In Lower Elementary, students grew a large harvest of radishes as the weather began to cool. They sold the radishes to the community to benefit the victims of Hurricane Helene. Now they are setting their sites on the colder winter months ahead and working to build a low tunnel over their raised garden bed to protect their winter lettuce.

Lower Elementary students continue the practice of Sit Spots, heading outside each morning in all weather conditions for five minutes of reflection and observation.

Upper Elementary

In Upper Elementary, the students visited Echo Hill Outdoor School for an immersive three day trip. They had the opportunity to explore the Chester River by boat, complete a ropes course, and enjoy many team-building activities. See photos and learn more about their trip here.

 

Adolescent Community

Our Adolescents have been working to improve our campus rain garden, pulling invasive weeds and making way for native plants to thrive. They also ventured out into the Baltimore community to volunteer with NeighborSpace Baltimore to clean up local pocket parks, add native plants to rain gardens, and run tests in a local stream. The students loved meeting a local Baltimore artist and learning more about these communities. They had an opportunity to see firsthand how environmental justice can serve city residents with improved access to multi-use green spaces. ⁠

 

What is Montessori Model United Nations?

What is Montessori Model United Nations?

Upper Elementary students in fifth and sixth grade participate in the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) as an After-School Program at Greenspring Montessori School. MMUN is an international group that seeks to empower young leaders through research, cultural studies, critical thinking, and problem-solving. MMUN works directly with the United Nations and implements elements of the Montessori Method to create an enriching experience for students and faculty.

In the past, Greenspring students have represented the countries of Ukraine, Bolivia, Guyana, Central African Republic, Vatican City, Kenya, and Congo-Brazzaville speaking about topics such as reliable energy, women and development, people’s right to self-determination, racial discrimination and xenophobia, and conflict in the Middle East.

Elementary students meet after school for months in preparation for the annual MMUN conference in New York City. This year, our students will be representing United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Croatia. The topics they are researching range from food security and water scarcity to gender equity and disarmament.

The MMUN program provides students in Upper Elementary the opportunity to learn about cultures, governments, and peoples of nations throughout the world. They put their research skills to the test, preparing a detailed speech and many written components. They discuss and debate as a group and develop critical thinking skills, trying to think from the perspective of representatives in their respective countries.

This experience culminates in a week-long trip to New York to visit the United Nations Headquarters and engage in dialog with other Montessori students from around the world. They learn together the need for peace and lasting conflict resolution, skills that will follow them through life.

Click here to learn more about our Elementary Program and here to learn more about Montessori Model United Nations.

Celebrating Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrating Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month

Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 each year in the United States, and celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of people of Hispanic and Latin American descent. The month recognizes the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and achievements of Hispanic and Latin communities, who have significantly influenced U.S. history, arts, politics, and society. It also serves as an opportunity to honor the diversity within these communities, which include people from various nations in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Spain.

During September and October, our Spanish Dual Language team created many meaningful ways to engage our community, including a special map for students and staff to document their own Latin and Hispanic heritage, a whole school Independence parade celebrating the independence of seven Latin American countries, and many lessons on the rich histories of the many communities that make up the Spanish-speaking regions of the world. Click on the link below to see photos and learn more about this amazing work.

Latin Independence Parade

Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 to coincide with the Independence Days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, followed by Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16, and Chile’s on September 18. Our Spanish language Guides and Partners led a celebration of the seven Latin American countries commemorating their independence in September – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile.

We enjoyed music from each country as our children paraded the campus with the flags they created. Children loved learning the meaning behind many of the flags of Latin America and creating their own to share. ⁠This was a beautiful way to commemorate Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month with our community!

 

Latin and Hispanic Heritage Wall

Additionally, during Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month our Dual Language team created a map of all of the Spanish-speaking countries. Children’s House students researched the countries and cut them out for the map. Then students and staff were invited to create a personal bio to pin to the countries where they share heritage and history. It has been a joy to learn more about others in our community and celebrate the beautiful diversity of our Spanish-speaking community. 

Thank you to the Dual Language staff for coordinating these efforts. You have helped to create a beautiful and meaningful celebration for our children, families, and staff. 

In addition to the planned celebrations, students also made Salvadorian papusas during their Spanish enrichment class – yet another beautiful way that our Spanish team brings culture alive in the classrooms!

Upper Elementary Overnight Trip to Echo Hill Outdoor School

Upper Elementary Overnight Trip to Echo Hill Outdoor School

Each year during the first weeks of school, our Upper Elementary students venture to Echo Hill Outdoor School for a three-day outdoor learning experience. Echo Hill is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with 242 acres of forests, meadows, and freshwater shrub swamp bordering a mile of sandy beach on the Chesapeake Bay.

This trip is a great opportunity for the Upper Elementary students to live close to nature and learn about our environment and our place within the natural world. The students enjoyed learning about many interesting topics like swamp biology, how to experience the environment through all our senses, wilderness survival, and bay biology.

Elementary students worked on a small fishing boat and experienced firsthand the living creatures of the Chester River. They discussed the ecological value of an estuary like the bay. Groups collected aquatic animals including freshwater eel, blue crabs, and fish which they had a chance to touch. Students learned the local history of bay communities, the environmental challenges fishermen are now facing, and so much more.

The trip also provided ample opportunities for community building as well. Students and adults learned to depend on one another and live in close quarters without devices. They worked together during the day to complete a ropes course and enjoyed many team-building activities. The students came home tired and happy.

Outdoor learning is an important element of Montessori education and a major focus at Greenspring Montessori School. The students’ retreat at the start of the school year is a key part of their study of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things. This is one of two major outdoor trips for our Upper Elementary students – the second will be a culminating trip in the spring. In alignment with this focus on the natural world, our students will be focusing a portion of their time at school on agriculture and ecology. They go for regular hikes in the local forests, conduct field experiments, and learn from naturalists in the area. On campus, the students will have many exciting projects this year to build vegetable gardens and start a community agriculture program.

Preparing Your Child for the New School Year at Greenspring

Preparing Your Child for the New School Year at Greenspring

Whether your child is starting school for the first time, changing schools, getting a new Guide, or simply switching from a summer routine to a school year routine, the start of a new school year can bring up a lot of emotions for both of you. Here are some ways you can help your child prepare for these big changes.

1. Validate Your Child’s Feelings

Allow your child to express their feelings about school. You can use validating phrases such as, “I understand that.” “I’ve felt that way before.” “That’s hard.” You can also encourage them to keep talking with phrases like, “Tell me more.” or “Help me understand more about that.”

Take a look at this list of validating phrases.

2. Practice Ahead of Time

Familiarity

Consider visiting the Greenspring campus ahead of time to walk around the grounds and play on the playground. (It would be great to do this several times if possible.) You might also use our Family Directory to reach out to the families in your child’s class so you can set up playdates over the summer. 

We also invite children to a classroom visit day, giving them one-on-one time with the Guide. When you visit, consider taking pictures of your child in the classroom and ask the Guide/Assistant to take a picture with your child. These can be used later to spark conversations about school. You might print them out so that your child can look at them often during the days leading up to school to help them establish familiarity with the adults in their classroom. All of these experiences will help your child feel more comfortable on the first day.

Excitement

You can offer a sense of autonomy by involving your child in picking out school supplies from the supply list. By looking through the list and talking about some of the items such as a new lunchbox or rain boots, your child will likely get excited about the things they will be able to do at school. 


Separation
If this is your child’s first school experience, it’s important to practice separation. Use the childcare room at the gym or have your child spend some time at a friend’s house to practice saying goodbye and coming back. If your child is struggling, start with just five minutes and build up from there.

 

New Routines

Start implementing the school morning routine well before school starts. Set an alarm for the new wake up time, and practice all the steps that you will do on a regular school day. Visual cues can be very helpful. Consider using a picture checklist for morning tasks or a picture calendar so your child can visualize the week.

Recommended Reading with Children

It can also be helpful for your child to see their situation reflected in stories. Here are a few book recommendations to read through with your child in preparation for the big day.

  • Bye Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick
  • The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff 
  • The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López
  • First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg and Judy Love
  • School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson 
  • Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

3. Lead by Example

Your child will pick up on your emotions. If you are nervous about the new school year (which is normal), make sure you have a place to share those that is not in front of your child. When talking about the new school year around your child, focus on positivity and model excitement. For example, “I can’t wait to hear all about your first day!”

It may take some time for your child to get settled. Be in partnership with your child’s teacher and the school to talk through ways to ease the transition for your child. The most important piece is for you to stay consistent with your child.

 

Have a safe and happy school year!