When you take a walk, how do you save those special observations to recollect later, like tracks in the snow, weather overhead, or landforms underfoot. We use a ‘journey stick’, a tradition from indigenous cultures. This is a way to tell the story of our travels; safe routes, location of animal sightings, and happenings along the way. Let your child share their journey stick which maps out our hike along the east trail of the pond. See if they can name our unique places and sketch out the symbol we created for each. Encourage continuing this project at home by adding other natural materials, coloured string, marker lines, or carving in shapes using tools. This will enrich the significance of the first journey of our winter session in Harrington.
Mapping is a skill with many working parts. Symbols, bird’s eye view, scale, compass directions, key, distance, and sense of place. These are important foundational learnings as children map their world, grounding themselves in places that have meaning for them. We now feel passionate about our pond spaces. We can call out a meeting place and everyone can travel on their own, or they can advocate to visit a favourite spot for play and projects. Ask to see your child’s evolving map in their nature journal. This map will be added to over the coming days at nature school. See if they can tell you about places like, Log Jump, Tree Tent, Root Highway, or Manitoba Seat. Ask what artifact they collected at each place and why it was chosen to capture this memory.
New tree friends, a wonderful connection to the earth.
Winter has arrived at the library as well. Mrs. Eastman was all set with a winter booklet and story about what animals do when the snow flies. The snowman scavenger hunt got us all hopping to fill up our winter bingo card. Bravo again to Mrs. Eastman for making the Harrington library such a happy place for nature schoolers!!
Our afternoon journey took us to the west side of the pond. A stop at the mill was filled with song. See if your child can serenade you with one of our top hits. See the end of this blog for the words to one we sang today (great suggestion Tamarack).
Happy rolling, pulling, and sliding on a little skiff of snow is always joyful at Sunrise Hill. See if your child can take you on a tour of the west pond using our place names. We will add these to our map next week.
Off through Ticket Gate (what was the ticket today?) to Cedar Hideaway where there are lots of opportunities for fishing, rock hops, finding old bottles and hanging like a bat. Have a chat about this place and what your child enjoyed doing here. There is a rumour that gold was found here!
We had to rush back to meet parents to end our day. What an wonderfully adventurous group. Tamarack, Dragonfly and I think this was an amazing first day of winter session. Can’t wait to see you next week Forest Friends:)
First Verse to one of our songs....ask to hear this one!
Let There Always Be A Song
Let there always be a song
A song down in your heart
Let there always be a song
A song down in your heart
Cause when you sing you say,
Life is good today.
So keep singing till we meet again.
Let there always be some love
Some love to give away
Let there always be some love
Some love to give away
Cause when you love you say
Life is good today.
So keep loving till we meet again.
Let there always be a world
For everyone to share.
Let there always be a world
For everyone to share.
Cause when you share you say,
Life is good today.
So keep sharing till we meet again.
Ask about some of our own versions of this song!
Happy Trails