Insect Exploration at Woodside National Historic Site
We meet amazing more than human visitors each time we arrive at Woodside National Historic Site. Today a curious Cicada welcomed us observing us with five eyes. Five eyes you wonder? We learned that Cicadas have two compound eyes and three Ocelli in between, five in total.
The children have been observing insects and identifying species using various nature guide resources for several weeks. Today they expanded on the Insect learning project through creative expression. The children narrated a story, took roles of Insects in the dramatic play, and drew the characters with chalk on the path to the museum. Long lines represented the movements of large Ants.
To expand on our learning with our Three Sisters garden, we decided to celebrate by eating delicious Sweet Corn. The children picked green beans and tomatoes to share at snack time as well. They were delighted to see two squashes growing! The children helped with husking the corn and incorporated the Corn husk into their art explorations.
Small groups built the safety area around the fire, and built the fire independently. As the children organized the project they reviewed the safety protocols, examined the fire extinguisher and fire blanket. We focused our fire experience on tasting sweet corn cooked and roasted. Two different methods of cooking provided us with an opportunity to deepen our STEM knowledge. We used a cast-iron grill for roasting and a cooking pot for steaming. We compared the taste and smell of each recipe to add to the multi sensory learning opportunity.
The children co-operated in a large group dramatic play scenario, engaging the educators. They built a “prison”, the most beautiful prison we have ever seen, under the shady Lilac bushes, and arrested the educators. The dramatic play became an amazing opportunity for discussions. The children described what offences warranted an arrest. We discussed the value of making mistakes in learning, and we brainstormed how we could avoid making big mistakes. We posed the question: “Should people go to prison? What could we do to help each other in making better decisions?” Dramatic play is a great opportunity to expand on our understanding of the complexities we experience in our communities, shed light on our collective responsibilities, and brainstorm prevention strategies.
A group of children requested a meditation experience. The children took time to relax, observe nature with all their senses, and explore the joys of intrapersonal learning. We discussed the importance of getting in touch with our feelings, senses, and making time for self-reflection.
The children reflected on their meditation experiences:
“I saw hawks, they are here!”
“I felt relaxed.”
“I watched a big squash in the garden.”
“I was stretching and thinking about my mom.”
“I closed my eyes and rested on the grass and thought about my mom.”
We are looking forward to our next visit and adventures at Woodside National Historic Site, and sharing our adventures with You.
