Spending Time in the Sunshine in the Uppers (6th-8th)

One of the most striking things for teachers teaching outside during the early Pandemic was how well regulated people felt just by being outside. Every extra noise made by a toe tapping energy, a door opening and closing, a side conversation between a teacher and student, was swept away by the ambient noise of trees in the wind, birds giving a chirp, and the rustle of leaves on the ground. The benefits of time in nature on mood, attention, and more are well documented by science but one only has to observe the increase in frolicking and friendship, not to mention focus when humans spend time in the sun. This week we made sure to stretch every minute we had in the sun and the results are worth sharing!

Shadow ears with Eva and Harper E. After a week of overcast, even just a shadow can bring people together who were just moments before lost in a bit of wintry doldrum solitude. 

Finding heart shaped bark reminds us of friends who love these moments but are no longer at our school, and while it may make us sad that we miss them, we get to miss them together, outside in the sunshine it's not so bad. 

Eva found an owl pellet on our hike. It was of interest to all on the hike, but even better is that we get to share it with the Forest Primes who are going to dissect it and see what was on the owl menu!

In the Uppers program, as with any school with access to outdoor environments, you still have to make the time available to have moments like these. It's something that Uppers teachers, and Center School teachers in general, are constantly discussing and checking on: Did we get outside enough today? or: What difference do we see in classes that happen right after an outside time v.s. those that are back to back indoors. And after the tent year, the answer is typically pointing towards Yes we did get outside today, but we could definitely do with some more sunshine!