Outdoor Classroom in Alexander is WNY's First
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It's a classroom without windows, or walls.
One acre: no chairs, no desks.
Pencils? Books? Don't need them.
"We want kids to become readers and writers, and also to be able to use language, and one way that happens is by getting out there and experiencing these things,” said Ellie Jinks, Pre-K teacher.
"It just offers so much more for students to be able to explore and be enriched with,” said Kathleen Maerten, Alexander CSD Superintendent.
It's more than just learning math or geometry while sitting outside. This classroom fosters learning in non-conventional ways. Anything from letting students make noise, to letting them make a mess.
It's the first certified outdoor classroom in Western New York, and the kids at Alexander are excited to have it.
"They get the smell of nature, they get to be outside and have fun, really,” said Nicholas Allen, 6th grade.
Parents are even more pleased.
"It can facilitate outdoor learning so that teachers actually will be able to continue to teach to their tests, but in an outdoor setting,” said Sheila Hess, a parent. “It's a refreshing change from kids looking at screens, whether it's a TV screen or a video screen."
"This place is all about nature, and that kind of makes people interested in coming,” said John Goodenbury, 6th grade.
It'll be finished in October, but just like nature, no two days will ever be quite the same in this classroom.