Grandmother Spider weaves the web of life connecting all creature beings as they enter on their Earthwalk. Each life form in the web carries within them gifts and talents that fulfill our dream for living a good life. Legends like this one, handed down from Indigenous peoples, offer a new way to look at and connect with the wonders of the natural world.
Tell the story of Grandmother Spider to your family. What kinds of living things and wonders are part of the web of life here at the farm. (HINT: think of the picture you found to place in the web). Share some of the gifts of your friends at nature school and consider the many talents or gifts you have and will develop on your journey through life.
The Tree of Life is colourful and filled with images that teach us many things. What do you see in this tree created by James Jacko, an indigenous artist from Manitoulin Island. Where did the artist add a design to show; the Creator, Teachers/Ancestors, life paths (branches), compassion and kindness (leaves), roots (balance) and the human beings? You could make your own tree design at home.
Tell your families about any of the other trees we visited during our Meet-And-Greet activity. Do you recall the strength of our giant Black Walnut? (strong core) Maybe you could make up a “Who Am I” about trees in your backyard or community to challenge friends to learn and care about trees in their neighbourhood.
Today we chose our tree friends for this year. What is the name and special gifts of your tree friend? Where does it stand around the Homestead? How do you feel about your tree friend?
Let's Talk
Sharing these moments might make your family laugh or say 'wow....cool'!
Before we hit the trail in the afternoon, we took a few minutes to learn how to read the scales on a ruler. Can you remember whether a millimeter is bigger or smaller than a centimeter? We practiced measuring the length of our fingers as well as some of the pine needles on the ground.
This information was useful when we started talking about spiders and how some people are afraid of them. Little Miss Muffet from the nursery rhyme even screamed when she saw one! We agreed that based on size, it should be the spiders screaming when they see us! Practice doesn’t always make perfect but it does help so perhaps you can find a ruler at home this week and put your measuring skills to the test. Remember it’s okay to round to the closest centimeter. We just say: “That spider is about 2 cm. long.”
We were lucky enough to see almost a dozen Orb Weaver spiders and their webs on our Web walk to Crayfish Catch. The Black and Yellow Garden spider has a nickname because of the way it weaves its web. Do you remember what it’s called? Hint: It’s something you use when you open and close your backpack.
“I’m a little spider, watch me spin. If you’ll be my dinner, I’ll let you come in!”. Tell your parents about the other brown Orb Weavers we saw today and what THEY may be having for their next meal!
At Crayfish Catch, some of girls used their creativity and managed to catch a number of surprised crayfish using their crocs! As budding naturalists, we took the opportunity to measure them too! See if you can remember the length of the smallest and the largest crayfish caught today.
Another one of nature’s surprises today was very large and puffed out a cloud of yellowish spores when we moved it. What was it called? A cheeseball? A basketball? All I know is that when we measured the top of it, we needed 2 rulers which means it was more than 30 centimeters wide!
Spiders are so cool, they can actually weave their webs up and down as well as side-to-side. We all agreed that finding a Bowl and Doily spider would be incredible! See if you can describe the web of life we made in the forest. What things were connected inside this web?
Let's close with words written by our own Monarch which express in a beautiful way that Nature Needs YOU! Thank you for sharing this gift. Happy trails until next week Forest Friends
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