Arroyo Nature School Newsletter #1

Hello Arroyo Nature School families,

The weather is finally cooling down and we get to bring out our sweaters! We have really enjoyed exploring the park during our cold mornings. The children have been coming in to school energized and ready to start the day. These crisp mornings have definitely given us the need to move our bodies and we have created more opportunities for them to do so.

Some of the children have worked together with a teacher to construct a large obstacle course. The children dragged along logs to hop over and used sticks to form pathways. This area offers lots of space for running and moving our bodies. The children can challenge themselves with jumping and balancing over the logs.

This fun area really offers opportunities for the children to work on their balance, coordination and stamina. They love to challenge themselves and see how much stronger and faster they are getting with time.

As we explore the park, we are starting to discover new growth around us. The children found a large mushroom called "Chicken of the Woods." It stands out very brightly behind the greens and grays of the trees. This mushroom is edible and is known to taste like chicken.

During our play at school, some children noticed some small fruits hanging low on the branches. Their curiosity opened up questions about what it was and can you eat it? They asked about the colors and why do the colors change?

We discovered that they were olives and they can be eaten after putting them in a brine.

We had our first field trip day at the casting pond! The children were so excited to explore a brand new area together. On our field trip days, we bring minimal classroom materials with us. We want the children to really immerse themselves in the environment around them. This is the time we observe, move our bodies and ask questions about the nature around us.

Children wanted to know more about this pond and why there are rings floating inside of it. We talked about the rings in the water and how they are practice targets for the fisherman. Maybe one day we will see them practicing!

The group walked through a dried creek area to find all sorts of Asian Clam shells. We found some really large clam shells and collected them in our pockets.

These are some of the biggest clams we have found! The children were pretty proud to find some of these. The small dried river beds will soon be full of water this winter.

The children have been very inquisitive and examining parts of the plants around them. They are counting the insect holes in the trees, sorting rocks by size (which is bigger and smaller), and collecting different colored leaves and seed pods. The group has really used the nature around them in their play. Using their imaginations really opens many possibilities in their play.

We've talked about these natural shapes and how they are beautiful to look at. So many patterns and shapes are inspired by nature. Under the bark is the vascular system to the tree. Isn't it amazing?

Here is a discussion about whether the coyote pups will get food inside or out of the little house.

On our walks, we have found structures made by other people. The children get to carefully play in these areas, while also respecting the work that went into it. We talk about how structures can be made with strong branches and the importance of stability and strength in the wood.

This is a busy ice cream shop! The children used the large rocks as a counter top and sold strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ice cream to their customers. They used sticks as ice cream cones and twigs as money.

We have worked on collaborative pieces with the children. Working together to cover the canvas really offers the children the opportunity to talk to each other and learn to share a space. This piece is layered with colors and brush strokes in all directions.

The children love using watercolor paints. The conversations about colors that they have while mixing is interesting to hear.

"I'm making green! We don't have green in here!"

" Look at my brown I mixed together on my paper"

We would ask each other how to mix greens, browns and oranges. Some kids would take a little from one and then the other and paint it onto their paper to show us. They are beginning to understand the first steps of creating new colors from primary and secondary colors. We will do more primary color mixing with paint in the future!

We brought out some colored washi tapes, pastels, colored pencils and scissors to see how the children would use the materials. Based on their age, a teacher was there to guide the use of the materials. Our art projects are usually open-ended, the only "rule" in the area is how to respect the materials. They have an option to use them in any order or way they would like.

Some children loved feeling the stickiness of the tape and how it can press onto the paper. They enjoyed choosing the colors of tape and then layering with their favorite pastel colors.

Some spent time and focus practicing to cut little slits onto the paper. It was impressive to see the determination to practice. Cutting is not easy!

The children have had some time through the week to slowly work on a collection of their artwork. They can tell stories or give descriptions of what they are drawing for each page added into this book. Taking this time to create these books and listening to their ideas gives the children confidence and openness to fully express themselves.

" Here's me. I'm going to sleep. Nona is snoring. Here's a light for me. These are the lights,

and all of Nona's snoring coming out of her mouth."

"I'm under the covers. A scary monster is coming. I'm hiding. Here's a light for me. The blankets are my all over my body"

The boy said, " I love you S.N." and he tumbled all over the world

"It's a river"

Friendships are forming and the children are looking forward to being with each other. Some are beginning to ask for others to join them in a train ride, ice cream shop purchase, cooking in the kitchen and dressing up. It is always beautiful to see these relationships evolving.

While all of these interactions are happening, the teachers are guiding the children in how to communicate with each other. In play, they are learning some basic principles of socializing and how to respect each other. They are learning how play works and if they decide to include others, how does that work? The teachers remind the children to use their words to work out any needs they may have during their play. Whether it is to ask for something they would like, voicing a frustration or trying to get someone's attention. We know that with age, comes the growth of language to express themselves. Sometimes an immediate response from a younger child may be to yell or grab, which is a normal response. They are frustrated! We work every day to give them the skills to use their words to express an emotion they are feeling and how to solve the problem they may have.

We are also working on listening to each other during those interactions. Listening to both their classmates and the teachers. Sometimes it is hard to listen. Even for adults, we may struggle with listening to what a person may need to tell us. This is something we are practicing everyday as people. We ask them to pause what they are doing and look at the person when it seems they have something important they would like to express. We are respecting each other's words. School is the best place to practice and learn these important skills as a foundation for their future relationships.

Here are some observations recorded from Jane!

Dust flies through the air

F.J: Is the dust going on our backpacks?

(dusts off all the backpacks)

I did them all.

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Elisa, A.A., Z.O., L.F., D.M., and A.W. tell stories with the puppets.

Elisa: Z.O. wants to be part of the story. Z.O what do you want to be?

Z.O: I want to be the bad guy

A.A: I'm going to be the owl that protects the people and hits Z.O. (puppet) carefully.

Elisa: Maybe we can scare her away somehow.

A.A: Okay.

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J.M. examines a Chicken of the woods mushroom growing on a tree.

J.M: It's a mushroom tree

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S.N. collects shells.

V.C: S.N, can I collect shells with you?

S.N: Okay

V.C: There are some you can pick

(S.N. follows V.C)

S.N: Oh, okay. I can pick them here and you can pick them over there.

(V.C. moves to the other side)

V.C: Yeah

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F.D-F makes a clay sculpture.

F.D-F: It's a spaceship on the launch pad.

A.W: It's a spaceship at the Space Museum.

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R.R. rolls a small piece of clay.

R.R: Don't worry, baby. I'll fix you. I'll fix you, baby.

He rolls the clay then cuddles it.

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L.R. puts dirt, water and sticks into a bowl.

L.R: I'm making pancakes. I'm making food for the snake.

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D.M. and J.M. sit in front of a big branch. J.M. climbs over it.

D.M: Yay! You did it! (claps)

Bye, J.M! You need to go potty on the Choo-choo train?

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Z.K: I see my shadow! It's so beautiful.

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L.F. plays in the treehouse. He gives a tour to Diego.

L.F: This is the kitchen.This is where the ingredients are. This is where I say, "hello" to the people and ask them, "You hungry for ice cream?"

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F.J: Hey, the car crashed.

S.R: Why?

F.J: It hit the bump.

Fabienne: Are the tires okay or do you need to fix it?

S.R: The tire's broken.

F.J: The tire is broken?

S.R: The engine is broken.

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O.N. tells a story.

O.N: One day there was a fire truck. One day there was a emergency. Whee-oh Whhee-ooh.

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Thank you for checking the latest newsletter! We hope you have a great weekend and prepare yourself for the possible rain ahead.

Arroyo Nature School