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Jul 01

Ridgetop Elementary Immerses Early Childhood Education in Nature

Michelle Willer

Students at Ridgetop Elementary cool off in mud puddles. Over the past five years, the school has launched an initiative to immerse early childhood students in nature.

Students pose for the camera as they appreciate the blooming daffodils. At Ridgetop Elementary, students spend every Tuesday and Thursday outdoors.

Student smiles as she balances on a log. During their immersive nature classes, students are encouraged to navigate uneven terrains, jump in puddles, climb trees, balance on handmade see-saws, dig in the dirt, and more.

An early childhood teacher at Ridgetop Elementary in Ridgetop, Tenn., shares her personal experiences and reflections on the importance of nature immersion for young children.

As a child I played outside all the time, exploring God’s beautiful world, experiencing unstructured free play, and developing a sense of wonder about the natural world. Nature became a place of calmness during my childhood. I realized that being immersed in nature is something I want other children to cherish and enjoy.

Over the past five years as an early childhood teacher in Ridgetop, I have launched the initiative to immerse my students in nature. We spend every Tuesday and Thursday morning outside. Students are encouraged to navigate uneven terrains, jump in puddles, climb trees, balance on hand-made see-saws, dig in the dirt, carry large objects, observe creepy crawlies, build shelters, and much more.

Being outside allows children to be children again. Time spent in nature should not be structured. My students are allowed to explore nature freely with a set of rules that are chosen specifically to keep them from harm. Nature Immersion is student-led, which grants the students the opportunity to be themselves, making them feel comfortable, and maximizing their social, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development.

Throughout the year, my students develop a sense of risk-taking, physical endurance, and curiosity about the world around them. They participate in problem-solving, critical thinking, team building, negotiating, cooperation, empathy, and compassion. I am blessed to have a Conference and school board that allows me to immerse my students in nature, and give them a child-led educational experience in God’s great, big, beautiful world.

Psalm 8:3-4 states, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

Nature is full of wonder. My students are blessed with the same opportunities I had growing up, and it’s a delight to watch them explore God’s beautiful handiwork.

Kentucky-Tennessee | July 2024

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