One child's comment transforms the group's perspective

 

Burchfield Nature Trail Fall 2014

 



Kindergarten students went on the Nature trail for the first time in October. They experienced the different trails and observed the environment, and they were looking for changes in nature in autumn.

 

The students began to walk the trail at first all walking in a line (without me asking them to). They began to take it all in. We got down to the creek side path and

student S said "It is so beautiful!"

 

 

This comment opened the student's eyes and ears they were looking at everything and trying to understand nature and what they saw. Student J said " there are some big rocks. That's hard because it is a big rock. Student J:" I think its mud, I think its mud and sticky!" Student S: "The rock is falling apart, the water is breaking it. Student M said: "Look, I found a waterfall!"  Student T walks over with what we know as a rock and says "I found a dinosaur egg."

Student M says, "I found an acorn."

 

One comment by their peer had helped the students begin to observe and take the time to not only observe nature, but to be part of it. They listened to their friend and they began to hear nature and the world that surrounds them. They understand that they are just a part of something much bigger, but they can affect the world when we listen. A four year old says "It's so beautiful!"  She changed the trip and opened the world to possibilities.