Resources
Learn about a day at our forest preschool
plus find answers to your frequently asked questions.
What to bring
Children should come to school dressed in layers that allow them to maintain a comfortable temperature at play and at rest. Waterproof outer layers are essential on rainy and snowy days.For most of our school year, insulated rain boots such as Bogs are the footwear of choice.
Each child should bring their own backpack with a filled water bottle, a change of clothes, and, during colder months, an extra pair of mittens.
Outdoor Gear Checklist
- BASE LAYER: Long johns or long underwear made of wool or silk. Should be soft and breathable (no cotton please!)
- MID-LAYER: Fleece pants and/or fleece top (long sleeved), wool socks, hat, and mittens. Most students use two pairs of mittens during class so please send an extra pair in their backpack.
- EXTRA LAYER: Light coat, sweater, warm vest. Something that can fit under a larger coat.
- OUTER LAYER (COLD/SNOW): Waterproof snow pant bibs. Bibs will prevent snow and wet getting onto skin, unlike snow pants. A waterproof and insulated jacket.
- OUTER LAYER (WET/RAIN): In the spring when it starts to rain again (or if we have some warmer winter days with rain), your child will benefit from waterproof rain pants/bibs and a rain jacket.
- BOOTS: Bogs, Muck Boots, or waterproof snowboots with an insulating layer in them and waterproof outer.
From the Forest
A Typical Day
OPENING CIRCLE
To mark the beginning of class, students and teachers gather together to sing our monthly song, greet each other, and introduce materials and themes for the day.
WALKABOUT
After opening circle, students are dismissed to Walkabout. Walkabout is a constructive playtime in which the children are encouraged to spread out within the forest classroom boundary and to choose their play and projects. They may choose to make music or act in the theater, cook in the kitchen, work in the building site, enjoy books in the library, explore seasonal materials in the science center, perfect their balance on the slackline, or work with our rotating art and drawing materials. Teachers help facilitate play as needed and document student work to inform next steps in the inquiry learning process.
SNACK
Snack may be at a table in our forest classroom, picnic style in the meadow, or in our heated wall tent on frigid winter days. During snack, some of the students will perform their jobs for the week: hand wash helper, snack set-up, and snack server. Teachers help the students perform their jobs and encourage conversation and table courtesy during snack.
CLOSING CIRCLE
Students and teachers gather for closing circle 15-30 minutes before the end of class. During this circle we read a story relating to seasonal happenings or student interests. The group may add words to our class alphabet book, do a numeracy activity, or share thoughts about the day before ending class with our goodbye song.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do children at roots spend any time inside?
Yes, though students typically spend at least half, if not all, of their 3-hour class outside. Teachers may choose to move class or conduct activities inside if the weather is especially wet or cold. Roots does not have a fixed temperature threshold that determines whether class will be indoors or outdoors. Instead, teachers use their judgement as well as feedback from students to make these decisions.
The indoor classroom for most preschool classes is our wall tent, which is heated by a wood stove. The Ponderosa State Park Activity Center is another indoor space available for our use.
Where do children go to the bathroom?
Children are given the option of peeing inside or outside as long as there is an indoor bathroom available. If a child is in the Forest Classroom, they may choose one of our yellow-flagged boundary trees as a place to pee or be escorted across the parking lot to the indoor bathrooms in the Activity Center.
How does roots prepare children for kindergarten?
We work to nurture a love of learning and inquiry in our students. Children at Roots are exposed to a wide range of topics and concepts and are encouraged to pursue their interests through different media, gaining literacy and numeracy skills along the way. Students leave Roots as eager learners, excited for their next adventure – Kindergarten!
We structure our classroom spaces and our daily schedule to promote self-regulation among students, and social emotional skills are embedded throughout our day as students learn to navigate their world with their peers and teachers. These skills have been proven to be key indicators of success both in school and life.
What precautions are you taking for covid-19?
Here is a link to our tentative response plan, which is updated as needed.
“Our granddaughter’s experience at Roots has truly been incredible. As you know we have seen first hand how much she has loved her time at school.. I just want you to know how much your school has instilled self confidence and awareness of the world she lives in. What she has learned from you will guide her throughout her life.”
– Ellen and Richard Holm
Roots Forest School
PO Box 2003
McCall, ID 83638
(208) 315-0925
info@rootsforestschool.com
