A.1:
Celebrating Mother
Earth – Creating a Meaningful ‘Circle-Time’ Experience
Think of the Sun as it
encircles the Earth – the rhythms of day and night, as well as the course
of the seasons. In this workshop we will explore how circle-time can be a
tool to awaken interest and sustain wonder in nature and join the Sun’s
‘great dance’. Participants will join hands and experience movement
sequences: some traditional and others which incorporate the flowing
gestures of Eurythmy. Presenter, Margaret Osmond, is trained
as an Eurythmist, with a 20 year career in the Waldorf School. She has
also been course tutor for the London (UK) Waldorf Early Years Training
Course. She believes Eurythmy can be a renewing force in life.
EH
FULL !!! A.2:
A Natural Progression:
Molding an Outdoor Playspace into a Nature-space
Every child deserves the
opportunity to interact with nature. With some imagination, any centre
could create a diverse “nature-space” that promotes nature, nurture and
learning. This workshop will be a hands-on activity that will bring
participants to seeing how their children’s centre can be transformed into
a diverse space that brings nature elements as the main focus of their
outdoor play area. Presenter, Rhea Dawn Maher, has been
planting and nurturing the seeds of creating natural habitats for learning
for children since 1994. Rhea is the Regional Associate for Evergreen.
A.3:
Nurturing the Unique Nature of a
Child
The term “nature” is used
in the context of “human” nature in this workshop. The participants will
discover and reaffirm the importance of nurturing early human development,
early attachment, building responsive relationships and providing
opportunities for play and exploration. Co-presenter Margo Kirk’s
career in early childhood education and care has spanned over 30 years.
Currently she is the Executive Director of University Children’s Centre in
Halifax. Margo is also a member of the Operations Committee of the Nova
Scotia Council for Child Development. Margo will present with Jim
Mustard, who has championed and coordinated the Roots of Empathy
in Nova Scotia as a way to share the knowledge for optimal infant
development as well as to give each student a chance to learn about
themselves and their classmates. Jim is a Fellow with the Council for
Early Child Development in the Maritimes.
A.4:
Where Have All the Mud Pies Gone?
This interactive workshop will focus on the
importance of supporting children’s growth through nature and the outdoor
environment. This workshop is for teachers of infants through preschool
age, and will include documentation, real examples of playgrounds, and how
teachers nurture nature in daycare settings. Participants will be
actively involved throughout the workshop and develop project plans for
their centre, whether rural or urban based. Co-presenters, Donna
Stapleton, ECE (Diploma of Applied Arts and Management
Development) is Executive Director of two Small World Learning Centres in
Bridgewater and a board member of Child Care Connection-Nova Scotia and
The Nova Scotia Coalition of Non-profit Directors; and Mansure Jung,
ECE (Germany), immigrated to Nova Scotia and is a teacher at Small World
Learning Centre. EH
A.5:
Le jardinage au centre de la petite
enfance
Cet atelier incitera les
participantes à la découverte du monde vivant et à la découverte du milieu
du jardin. Elles auront aussi l’occasion de réfléchir au développement
d’activités connexes qu’elles soient artistiques, musicales,
psychomotrices ou mathématiques. Cet atelier permettra également aux
participantes de voir qu’il est possible de mener un projet à long terme
avec de jeunes enfants. Animatrices : Sophie Farla et Nathalie
George, éducatrices à la garderie Le Petit Voilier de la région
métropolitaine d’Halifax, depuis quelques années. Elles sont toutes les
deux originaires de la Belgique où elles ont obtenu un diplôme
d’instructrice préscolaire. EH
Series A:
9:00 to 10:30 am
