Learning the ABCs Under the Trees: Outdoor Lessons with Uncle Bison

🌿 The Hana (The Practice)

Every morning, keiki gather in our outdoor classroom with Uncle Bison, our Lead Teacher and Director. Here, under the shade of the trees and surrounded by play structures, gardens, and fresh air, learning feels alive and connected. The alphabet isn’t just a lesson on a whiteboard — it’s part of a rhythm that blends literacy, nature, and aloha.

🌱 What Children Learn

Children practice focus, listening, and participation while also building early literacy skills. Sitting together, they see that learning is a shared experience — one that is joyful, engaging, and filled with wonder.

💛 Connection to Social-Emotional Learning

This circle time nurtures belonging. Keiki learn to take turns, raise hands, and listen with respect — skills that go beyond academics and foster lifelong emotional literacy. With Uncle Bison’s gentle guidance, every child feels seen and valued.

🌺 Connection to ʻĀina

The classroom itself reminds us that learning doesn’t need walls. Surrounded by the sounds of birds, the rustling of trees, and the presence of nature, keiki discover that knowledge grows best when it’s rooted in ʻāina.

✨ Living in Pono

At Ka Hana Pono, we believe education should be balanced — nurturing mind, body, and spirit. Our outdoor lessons embody pono by aligning learning with the natural world and community values. It’s more than ABCs — it’s raising children who feel connected, capable, and cared for.