Wonder Wagon: Inquiry Outdoor Learning with the Four Frames

Resources Used

The Kindergarten Program, (2016)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/kindergarten.html

A Place for Wonder, Reading and Writing Non-Fiction in the Primary Grades by Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough, (2009)

Growing Success – The Kindergarten Addendum: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools, (2016)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/growingsuccessaddendum.html

Questions, Questions by Marcus Pfister

The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

I Wonder by Annaka Harris and John Rowe

Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld

A Rock Is Lively by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder

If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian

Leaf Man by Lois Elhert

If Rocks Can Sing by Leslie McGuirk

Resources Created

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Step Gently Out

After our read-aloud in our outside seating, student were excited to find insects and get a closer look

Ant Drawing… Step Gently Out Inspiration

One child was excited to get paper and record his ant sighting up-close by drawing a picture and labelling it

Outdoor Classroom

In our outdoor classroom, students choose their own seating!

Up-close

Our magnifying glasses allow students to get a closer look

Writing Centre

Student love to paint words on the wall with water

Wagon Packed and Ready

We keep materials in our wagon to support student learning, exploration and documentation

Bee Drawing… Step Gently Out Inspiration

One of the children was excited to find a bee and wanted to draw a picture

Leaf Compare

Students compare size and colour and try to identify found leaves with the illustrations from the book, Leaf Man by Lois Elhert

We decided to begin our Wonder Wagon project with the box. We sparked instant wonderings with the children. Great provocation for student thinking and creating a sense of wonder in our class community.

Bug on Hand

Better to see it on our hand than in a book! Students love seeing bugs up-close.

Hyacinth

Outside hyacinth become our inside art inspiration for still life painting, drawings, and plasticine art

Little hands building the wagon

After opening the box of mystery, the children were thrilled to build the wagon!

Introducing the Wonder

We decided to pique student interest and create a sense of wondering by placing the wagon (still in the box) out with the question inviting students to wonder what could be in the box? Clipboards and pencils and thinking bubbles were purposely placed for students to record their wonderings.