Children look at the world through a lens of wondering and questioning. We can dampen that down in school or harness the energy of wonder, making kids curious about possible connections and what else might be out there.
You see it in these faces, windows opening into the world.
"We stand together in a circle of peace." This is how we begin our day at Coyote Nature School and that is what it felt like today. Peaceful.
Larch, who has been with us almost two years, has moved into a leadership role as Junior Nature Mentor. Part of this opportunity means more responsibility in the learning, so today he arrived earlier than the rest and got to see some 'behind the scenes' of Coyote Nature School. He helped prepare the journals, name necklaces, and figure out a secret word for the bug scavenger hunt.
Does your child remember this three syllable word? Hint: the word includes "cent". It was also the bug we acted out as a group with our rhythmic arms pretending to be its many legs.
Does your child know what types of bugs would be found under a rock? Hint: remember the book we read? To find bugs, you have to think like a bug. What is a bug doing on a day like today? Where is a warm spot? What food would you eat? We went on a bug hunt around the hall. In total, our budding biologists found 15 worms, 5 potato bugs (look like basketballs), 2 millipedes, 2 beetles and 3 ladybugs.
To send these bugs back into the world alive, we prepared them tubular travel accommodations. What kind of natural items did your child pack for the bugs? How did your child decide where to place the travel tube? Ask them what they think will be found in the tube next week?
The bugs discovered today were all adults. Worms are different and we decided bigger worms are older worms. Bugs like beetles go through a life cycle starting with an egg, then they become larva. Larva grow and grow until they finally become an adult. Some bugs go through a complete change or metamorphosis. Can your child name a bug that goes through a complete metamorphosis? Hint: what about the bug in the rock paper scissors game?
Grey Squirrel read a book about a six-spotted green tiger beetle. How did it hunt? Some connections by Beaver and Larch were made to other animals who hunt in the same manner. What were some of the stages in its life cycle?
It's pretty cozy snuggling up with reading buddies in the library on a wet, cool day!
Fingerprint beetle drawing is simple art that can be stretched as artistic talents blossom. Owl added a habitat for her tiger beetle, while Fox created a colourful forest.
Heron read the book "If You Find A Rock" to the saplings and each child designed a memory rock to hold memories created at nature school. Wolf was given a worry stone from Coyote when she went on a long trip. Heron reminded the saplings that she has seen many of them use crossing stones and splashing stones. Ask: "What memory did you draw on your rock?
The seedlings were taught spool knitting in a new way with our return guests Tim & Betty. These fine motor skills can be challenging, but are important to keep our fingers nimble for other tasks.
Nature journaling give us time to reflect, be creative, or play with what we have experienced. These are really memory books, flowing ideas from our hearts onto the page. Firefly wanted to remember the spool knitting. others special rocks, some use pictures or LOTS of words.
Games, discovery, roleplay, song...ask about all the other fun things happened todaylike our new fav game Switch-a-roo!
Nature Mentors bring along a love of learning mindset too. Thanks to Dragonfly, Tamarack, Raccoon, Raven, Willow and Heron for the spring adventures today. Larch will keep on growing with us. We loved having Tim with his care and attention to detail and Betty ready to make everyone feel successful at spool knitting! Can't wait to see you all again next week Forest Friends!
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