Experiential Education | Honoring Children and Celebrating Ideas.
By Sarah Guard, Lower School Woodsview Teacher
Experiential Learning is an immersive approach that replaces desks and worksheets with opportunities for children to engage in a more tactile learning experience. In my observations over the last 20 years, I have learned that children do best when their questions are self-generated and when they can figure things out for themselves. The first time young children write their name, figure out how to pump on the swings or learn to balance blocks for that perfect building is magical. From these first experiences, children exude a self-pride that goes far beyond and deeper than any comment an adult can make. Similarly, when children learn about the world around them in authentic ways, the impact is deep and memorable.
In this busy technology-filled world moments where children are allowed to experience and figure things out on their own are so crucial. Currently, the Pre-K are exploring life- cycles, a concept that was first introduced in the fall through our observations of monarch caterpillars who then metamorphosed into chrysalises and then emerged as beautiful butterflies. With that first real-life experience as an anchor, learning about another creature becomes an opportunity to witness the interconnection of the 
natural world. In the classroom, children have been observing three bullfrog tadpoles who are in the early stages of developing legs. Every morning the students are excited to come to see the "pond" tank to see if any changes have occurred, so much better than learning from a book! The children then document each stage of the life cycle by dictating their observations to a teacher and by creating a life cycle display.
The Sparhawk Credo states, "Sparhawk Students are willing to learn. Courageous in the face of unknowns, they are willing to ask questions and persevere until understanding comes." The experiential approach encourages children to do just that!