Harcourt Staff decided that we would have an experiential experience where we would combine a K-2 Exploratory unit and the cross curricular component of 3-5 grades. 

It was a fantastic ending off with the Take me Outside Day.

We had the students choose groups (Teams) and had them do a bit of research to see how lean-to or shelter would look like. We discussed the elements, what they would need to keep warm, and how to build; where to build for least exposure to prevailing winds etc.

Then they got to work. I will post a chronological series of pictures demonstrating the progress and the conclusion.

We then spoke about fire safety and how we might make a fire with flint. We discussed how people made fire before matches and lighters were invented. No matches or accelerant allowed! We collected dry grass (nest) and cut tiny tinder and collected moss, dried leaves, and flowered pussy willows for our base. The Mr. Scully had the students shield the wind so the flint sparks could catch fire. He started the fire, demonstrated how to build the fire and then we cooked spider hot dogs and made s’mores using a reflector oven by the fire.

The following day Ms. Whalen conducted an outdoor education classroom and Mr. N. Scully had his students write a retelling of the events and then a procedural story about our experiences.