Zoo School San Antonio

Where lea
rning com
es naturall
y.
“As children observe,
reflect, record, and
share nature’s wonders,
they are participating in
a process that promotes
scientific and ecological
awareness, problem
solving, and creativity.”
— Deb Matthews Hensley
Photo Credit:
Adam Jones
CONTENTS
Registration & Info 3
Quick Facts 5
Philosophy & Goals 7
Benefits of Learning 9
in Nature
1
:
Credit
Photo Russell
n
Alliso
“When children come into
contact with nature, they
reveal their strength.”
— Maria Montessori
2
Zoo School Registration & Information
TRATION
ZOO SCHOOL REGIS
R OPENS ON
FOR THE 2016–17 YEA
AM.
MAY 24, 2016 AT 11:00
Started in 2004, Zoo School is a fully licensed preschool. It is one of the only
preschools in San Antonio that uses nature as the integrating thread tying
together the school’s philosophy, methodologies, classroom design and
outdoor spaces.
ZOO SCHOOL INFORMATION
• Zoo School is a nature-based preschool.
• The 2016-17 school year runs from September 15, 2016 to May 19, 2017.
• Classes are conducted either from 8:45 am to 1:45 pm or 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
• Zoo School students should be ages 3-5 and display confidence in toileting
and dressing themselves.
• The teacher to student ratio is one teacher to every 8 students.
• There are three registration options:
>
5-DAY: Monday through Friday
>
3-DAY: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
>
2-DAY: Tuesday and Thursday
ZOO SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL:
• Spend at least 50% of each day outdoors
• Explore the zoo every day and participate in animal interactions and demonstrations
• Cultivate an appreciation for the codependence we have with plants and animals
• Investigate their own curiosity about their surroundings with compassion and care
• Recognize that learning can be as much of a serious hands-on experience as it is messy fun
• Engage in motor activities to develop spatial awareness and place value on daily exercise
• Foster a lifelong passion for habitat conservation and self-directed learning
• Play with natural materials, such as rocks, dirt, water, sand, twigs and leaves
(expect your child to come home sweaty, dirty, and happy)
TUITION AND FEES
5-DAY PROGRAM: $750 a month
3-DAY PROGRAM: $500 a month
2-DAY PROGRAM: $350 a month
Registration Fee: $400.00
Waiting List Fee: $15.00
3
“I love knowing when I pick my daughter up from Zoo School
she will be sweaty, dirty, tired and brimming with excitement
about all she learned and explored that day. Zoo School brings
out the best in her.” — Kelli Thomas
4
Quick Facts
About
Zoo School
View the
world through a lens
of conservation
& zoology
Child centered
with focus
on play
Outside
and in the Zoo
at least half of
every day
focus on learning through play,
self-initiated learning, & creative
expression (the NAEYC program standard) —
uses portions of philosophy from Montessori,
Regio Emilia, and nature-based preschool
best practices. We incorporate the NAAEE
Guidelines for Excellence in early
childhood environmental
education.
Low
teacher:student
ratios
Flexible
schedule
Very amily and
community oriented.
Through campouts, picnics and
other amily events, Zoo School works
closely with parents to support
the whole amily getting outside
and enjoying nature.
Science,
Engineering,
Art, & Math
based
5
“No significant learning occurs without
a significant relationship.”
— James Comer
6
Teaching Philosophy & Goals
1
EDUCATION: Zoo School’s focus is to excite and engage children to embark on a
lifelong journey of exploration, learning and wonder.
By using a very child-centered approach, Zoo School embraces children’s innate fascination with
nature and animals to spark their interest in math, science, art, language and more. Whether it’s
making a hypothesis on how many green snakes can be found on a daily walk or writing their name
on a present to be delivered to the monkeys, children are constantly engaged in conversations and
play that stimulate discovery, cooperation and independent thinking.
2
NATURE CONNECTION: From deserts and rainforests, to butterflies and giraffes,
to mud puddles and bird dances, Zoo School empowers children to appreciate,
protect and understand the world around them.
First, Zoo School helps children become more aware of their surroundings. We then work to instill
a connection to the natural world - including even the crawly bugs that they maybe didn’t like before
Zoo School. By modeling care and compassion, instructors help children understand how to protect
and appreciate the world’s amazing plants, animals and habitats. Through daily Zoo tours and lots
of time spent playing outside as a group, Zoo School helps children become more self-confident, not
only in their discovery and exploration of the natural world but also in themselves and their
relationship with others.
3
KINDERGARTEN READINESS: With a focus on student growth in math, pre-literacy,
art, social, practical, gross and fine motor skills, Zoo School goes beyond
kindergarten readiness to encourage a passion for lifelong learning.
By fostering student independence, confidence and critical thinking skills, instructors help all
students grow so they are ready to excel not only in kindergarten but also throughout life.
7
“Play is often talked
about as if it were a
relief from serious
learning. But for children,
play is serious learning.”
– Fred Rogers
Photo Credit:
Allison Russell
8
A FEW BENEFITS OF LEARNING IN NATURE
• Children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are
better able to concentrate after contact with nature (Taylor et al. 2001).
• Children with views of and contact with nature score higher on tests of
concentration and self-discipline. The greener the experience, the better
the scores (Wells 2000, Taylor et al. 2002).
• Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor
fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often
(Grahn, et al. 1997, Fjortoft & Sageie 2001).
• When children play in natural environments, their play is more diverse with
imaginative and creative play that fosters language and collaborative skills
(Moore & Wong 1997, Taylor, et al. 1998, Fjortoft 2000).
• Exposure to natural environments improves children’s cognitive development by
improving their awareness, reasoning and observational skills (Pyle 2002).
• Nature buffers the impact of life’s stresses on children and helps them deal with
adversity. The greater the amount of nature exposure, the greater the benefits
(Wells & Evans 2003).
• Play in a diverse natural environment reduces or eliminates bullying (Malone &
Tranter 2003).
• Nature helps children develop powers of observation and creativity and instills
a sense of peace and being at one with the world (Crain 2001).
• Early experiences with the natural world have been positively linked with the
development of imagination and the sense of wonder (Cobb 1977, Louv 1991).
Wonder is an important motivator for life long learning (Wilson 1997).
• Children who play in nature have more positive feelings about
each other (Moore 1996).
• Natural environments stimulate social interaction
between children (Moore 1986, Bixler et al. 2002).
• Outdoor environments are important to children’s
development of independence and autonomy (Bartlett 1996).
• Play in outdoor environments stimulates all aspects of
children development more readily than indoor environments
(Moore & Wong 1997).
9
“Look deep into nature and you will
understand everything better.”
– Albert Einstein