Laurel Engman and Anna Sharratt

Engman’s and Sharratt’s innovative teaching idea, ‘Wednesday in the Woods,” focuses on providing the Dowling School’s kindergarten program with meaningful outdoor learning experiences, integrated with core academic subjects. With the Voya grant, Engman and Sharatt are able to expand an existing partnership with a nearby school’s program. Through the program, the students will focus on social and emotional development as well as supporting interdisciplinary learning. This project will provide meaningful, recurrent outdoor learning opportunities to a group of children who otherwise may not have access to nature, laying the groundwork for a lifelong connection to the natural world. The team’s research shows that active, outdoor learning can benefit young students in the areas of creativity, problem-solving, executive function, academic performance, focus, motor development, social skills and communication.