In worship we joyfully celebrated Easter and new life, and continue to do so as we are still in the Easter season. In so many other ways, we are seeing new life around us.
In the Sky and Trees Classes, we have been on a search. A search for signs of spring. New life. New beginnings.
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| Looking for signs of spring |
We have noticed the blossoms and leaves that are sprouting from trees and bushes in the park. We are noticing details in nature: "Look at the tree's skin!" And learning new vocabulary words: "bark."
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| Finding blossoms in the park. "Those are bigger because they are older! Big sister flowers!" "No, I think they are different kinds of flowers because look here. They're the same color so they are in the same family. But they're not the same kind of flower." |
Children have collected flowers and leaves from the park and brought them in to share, compare, and even to draw.
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| Observational drawings of flowers from trees |
We are noticing changes, that the flowers on the trees are falling off and new leaves are growing on the trees. Plants are sprouting up in the dirt. The park is becoming greener! Our work is reflecting what we are seeing and learning about.
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| Painting green |
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| Cutting a leaf |
The children planted seeds in the Trees Classroom and are planning to nurture them and watch them grow. New life is all around!
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| Planting seeds |
We have also happened upon several beautiful pale blue eggshells but so far have not ben able to find nests that they seem to come from.
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| Recent discoveries |
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| Sharing an egg that was found on the way to school |
The children had several theories about how the eggshells got to the ground. And why we have not seen any baby birds or nests nearby:
“Maybe the bird dropped the egg out of the nest and it broke and the baby bird flew back up to the nest.”
“Maybe the mama bird pushed the egg out of the nest with her beak or tail because she didn’t need it anymore.”
“Maybe the baby bird hatched and the baby walked out or flew away.”
Of course, these theories have led to interesting questions, conversations, as well as some reading and research.
Children have been studying books about birds to gather information. Some of their theories have been disproved. We now know that when baby birds hatch, they cannot fly right away and their parents must feed and care for them, just like human babies must be cared for by their parents.
They have watched a mother bird protect her hatchling in a recording. As we watched the mother wiggle down to protect her baby, the children thought that her action looked like she is “hula-hooping” and every time they see her shimmy into position above her baby who is hatching, big grins and giggles emerge from the children. There is great delight in observing nature!
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| Looking for bird informaiton |
We have continued to observe and ask questions. We have found other nests in other places, but so far none with baby birds. Are they squirrel nests? Bird’s nests? Do they have eggs inside? We do not yet know.
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| Askng to see if the first grade has a nest on their windowsill (since we found eggshells next to the school building) |
Simultaneous to all that is going on in the classroom, Cecily has been sharing with us reports of a robin’s nest that is on her patio. There were eggs and now there are babies! Each day she brings a new bit of information about the babies, including photos and video recordings of the parents feeding and protecting their babies from a bluejay. The mother and father both care for the babies.
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| A bird in a nest |
We are observing spring unfold before our very eyes. New discoveries and excitement are filling our days this springtime!
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| A robin in its nest |
