Winter at Farm & Forest Preschool doesn’t slow learning down—it opens the door to entirely new ways of exploring, wondering, and growing. In our February Deep Dive, Kailina Mills, EdD, Farm & Forest School Director, walks families through how intentional, scaffolded play in the snow is supporting one of our most important early learning goals: emerging literacy, especially early writing skills.
Back in Exploration Mode
February marked a full return to exploration mode as part of our emergent inquiry approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. Rather than starting with a fixed lesson plan, students ventured out across the farm and into the woods to follow their natural curiosities:
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What is catching their attention?
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What questions are bubbling up?
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What materials in the winter landscape invite investigation?
This child-led curiosity forms the foundation for meaningful learning experiences that feel joyful and authentic.
From Snow Play to Writing Skills
At first glance, a snowy field might look like pure free play (and yes—there is plenty of joyful play!). But as Kailina explains, educators are thoughtfully scaffolding these moments to support early literacy development.
In practice, this means teachers are:
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Observing what children are already doing in the snow
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Noticing emerging interests (tracks, marks, symbols, patterns)
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Gently extending the play with prompts, tools, and invitations
Snow becomes the perfect natural canvas for early writing because it is:
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Large-scale – encourages big arm movements that build writing muscles
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Low-pressure – marks disappear easily, reducing fear of mistakes
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Sensory-rich – engages the whole body in the learning process
Why This Matters for Early Literacy
Early writing development doesn’t begin with pencils and worksheets. It starts with:
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Large motor movements
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Symbol-making
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Experimentation with marks
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Confidence in expressing ideas
Outdoor environments—especially winter landscapes—naturally support these foundational skills.
Through scaffolded snow play, students are building:
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Hand and arm strength
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Spatial awareness
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Symbol recognition
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Confidence as emerging writers
Most importantly, they are developing a positive emotional relationship with writing, which research shows is critical for long-term literacy success.
Emergent Inquiry in Action
This month’s deep dive beautifully demonstrates how the emergent inquiry process works in real time. Teachers observe → children explore → curiosity grows → educators extend learning.
Nothing is forced. Everything is responsive.
When students lead with curiosity and educators thoughtfully scaffold the experience, even a snowy morning becomes a powerful literacy lab.
Watch for the Learning in the Play
To families, snow play may look simple—but as Kailina shows, there is deep intentionality behind the scenes. At Farm & Forest Preschool, we trust that meaningful learning happens when children are:
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Curious
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Engaged
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Moving their bodies
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Interacting with real materials
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Supported by responsive educators
Winter gives us a beautiful classroom, and our students are making the most of it—one snowy mark at a time.
