During Physical Education class third, fourth and fifth graders had the opportunity to enjoy an outdoor learning activity in winter; they went snowshoeing. This exciting activity is included in the curriculum because it offers student’s a variety of benefits. Snowshoeing offers students the opportunity to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity where they need to learn to move with an awareness of their “new big” feet. In addition, they practice principles of exercise such as aerobic conditioning, flexibility and muscular endurance and cooperation. The exploration of the outdoors in winter leads to an appreciation of what animal activity is occurring in winter. Students were asked to find animal tracks and determine what direction they were moving in and for what reason. The benefits of exercise and fresh air aren’t the only benefits of the activity. Weather related observations also can be used to promote students were asked to observe their surroundings. For example, why is their snow attached, like a vest, to one side of the trees and not the other? Why is the snow frozen at the bottom of the tree and more snow like at the top? The sense of discovery led them to explore and ask questions beyond what time allowed. Overall the students at Birch Meadow enjoyed the freedom of using the outdoors as their classroom and acquired an appreciation for this mode of travel. They made snow angels and left their tracks and initials in the snow for someone else to explore and discover.
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