Last week, during our outdoor exploration, our School-age 1 group found a sewer and were very inquisitive about what was in there. We talked about how rainwater, household water, and sewage end up in the pipes and eventually it can impact our rivers, lakes, and oceans. To expand on this inquisitive learning we used dyed sand, blue and green marbles, blue and green hair elastics, and gem stones alongside marine animals as an attempt to mimic the externalities that our pollution has on our waterways and subsequent wildlife.
The children were so engaged, using their sorting, fine motor, and classification skills. Teagan asked what the difference between an octopus and a squid is; this opened a great opportunity for co-learning! We researched and found that structurally an octopus has 8 tentacles and a round body, while a squid typically has 10 tentacles and a triangular body! As a group, we plan on furthering our engagement by reading "We Are Water Protectors" by Carole Lindstrom, which will not only expand our learning but also allows us to hold space for Indigenous authors during September!
