Lower School
Imagination at Play - Second Grade Roxaboxen Tradition
Inspired by their reading of Roxaboxen, an award-winning children’s book written by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, Country School second graders headed to the woods last week to build their own imaginary town.
Working in small groups children whisked around the 35-acre outdoor classroom space stacking logs, piling stones, exchanging acorns and leaves as imaginary money, and created bakeries, pet shops, jail cells and more. One group shrieked with delight when they caught a frog and quickly sold it to another group in exchange for imaginary groceries.
“What a wonderful Country School tradition to have all the second graders engaged in imaginary play and working together in the beautiful setting of the woods,” remarked second grade teacher Emily Anglund-Nellen.
Back in the classrooms later that afternoon, students reflected on their experiences, connecting what they had seen and done to the school’s mission skills: teamwork, ethics, resilience, curiosity, time management and creativity.
“People were being so kind and including each other,” said Charlotte.
“We kept going so we didn’t give up,” said Max.
The second grade Roxaboxen tradition is just one of many Country School traditions that combine traditional teaching methods, such as a read-aloud with an experiential component.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
