"Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books." - John Lubbock
There is something truly magical about watching a child explore nature. Little things that we as adults barely even notice can create great feelings of wonder and excitement in a child. Seeing a sudden burst of wind shake leaves loose from a tree, watching them gently float to the ground like delicate snowflakes, the thrill of watching two squirrels take part in an exhilarating game of tag, the anticipation of waiting for a seed to sprout, a plant to bloom, a tomato to ripen. Spending time outside is so much more than just play time for us, it is truly a learning experience.
We are very fortunate to have the natural beauty of the Haw River directly behind our playground and even more fortunate to be able to traverse the nature trails that have been created in the woods leading to the river's edge. These afternoon walks have allowed our students to observe and experience so many wonderful things that take place in the woods. This week we spent some time discussing our observations and studying the many components that help bring the woods to life.
Building tree structures:
Exploring woodland animal sensory bins:
Creating woodland animals with natural materials:
Discovering just how strong a squirrel's teeth are:
And finally, collecting our own little bits of nature for a fun math activity!
It's amazing how something as simple as stepping outside can open up an entire world of learning opportunities!
