At the beginning of the month of June, the School-age 1 children took a walk to Millen Woods forest to explore nature. As they arrived to the woods, the educators reviewed the rules of proper use of this space and how to show respect to nature by observing the surrounding area, insects, birds, trees, and possibly the animals. The children were provided with bug catchers and nets in order to have closer observations.
Some of the children were interested in the area that was covered with water which attracted some animals and birds. The children learned about a marsh, which is the transition zone between land and water, covered by soft grass, trees or shrubs. Other children spotted the soft, green patches that were visible on the tree trunk or ground, often referred to as moss.
Noah and Hudson noticed the long branches of trees and decided to build a triangular structure. The boys started collecting tree branches and leaning them over the big tree. This activity encouraged other children to join in and help out with this project, and they worked collectively and cooperatively to get the job done. They practiced their gross motor skills by lifting the heavy branches and placing them around their structure.
Harper wanted to look for nature treasures and found a big, heavy rock. She was so excited that she decided to bring it to the center. Luke challenged his risky play skills by climbing a tall log saying, "I am the tallest in the world". Elizabeth practiced balance by walking along a fallen log and trying to walk sideways. Zoey and Alice were using the bug catchers to observe some insects, placing an ant under the magnifying glass and watching the ants moves. Finnigan found tree bark and was intrigued by the tiny spider that he found crawling along it; he smiled and said that the spider found his home.
This forest trip turned out as a great success. On the way back to the center the children shared their positive comments about their new experiences and learnings.
