What has ears that stand up, a stubby tail, is low to the ground and loves to sniff? No…it’s not today’s theme animal Cottontail, but our little visitor Rosie who ventured along the trail with us at nature school this morning. Turns out Rosie, Coyote’s dog, loves being outdoors and has found a fan following which is giving her new confidence. Rosie was exhausted when she got home and went straight to bed!
A rare sighting of the majestic and endangered Larch at morning check in. And a bald eagle too!
Today we stretched one particular skill at an observation activity near the Mill. What objects were hidden around this space in places they didn’t belong. Particular things made them more difficult to find.? Dragonfly was tricky! Can you name all 10 objects? Beaver was sharp in using this skill immediately afterwards in spotting a fact card hanging in the tree.
We learned cool facts about Cottontail rabbit and used some interesting methods to ‘lock them in’ our memory banks. What funny method did Beaver use for the first fact? (singing it to a happy birthday tune). He also suggested another strategy; placing the topic in a room in a make-believe house, visualizing the fact inhabiting a particular room connected to it. So, for the fact about bunnies making a nest for babies and lining it with their own fur, what room in the house would you put this in? Bedroom! This seems an ingenious way to keep new knowledge safely tucked away for when we need it. Fun Fact: rabbits move their food with their nose to eat.
What was the 'ticket' to get into Cedar Hideaway? Crow had many to give, so could have brought a big crowd of friends to the Hideaway. Wander time reflected morning check in, with some kids in the slow mode of creating, while others rambunctiously hiding from predators. Check in about this important time and what your child did and with who? I highly recommend asking for a homemade mud chocolate glazed donut this weekend with fungus chunks and cedar sprinkles. Delicious!
I told a story to Elk about a dead minnow I adopted at the age of 5 which was craftily hidden in my sock drawer at a weeklong family church camp . I was so content to sit with my minnow (named Buddy) on the bed, pressing gently on his soft tummy watching his tiny mouth gap open. He was discovered of course, as the stench reached the small kitchen outside my door and my mom searched for the cause. A moment in life when you discover not everyone see's the treasures found in nature as you do. Parents, just know that they may give children lifelong memories to share. What is in your hand Elk????
Thanks to Grey Squirrel for sharing some rabbit facts, a fun action song and providing materials to make a paper rabbit valentine.
Playing a familiar game called Fox and Rabbit, we changed up the rules again. This time we had a hawk hunting for rabbits, we had branches stuck in the ground or snow for rabbit shelters. Can your child tell you how to play this game and what roles they took? On the last round, a 'poison' was introduced in the form of a spray bottle. Killdeer loved this role and sprayed any animal he could with the 'poison' spray.
We put our creative hats on for the end of the day. Working with our hands and sculpting nature we notice small details and imperfections. They will turn out to be real treasures!
The clay was cold, soft and wet and was perfect for moulding and shaping into something. A rabbit paperweight was crafted using clay and some natural materials. Ask your child about their rabbit design. There were some questions about legs and how to make them and lots included some finer details. It was good to see some of the children take the extra time to create some realistic looking rabbits.
A final question that might spark some nice conversation. What inspired you today?
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