Following on from my post yesterday about the lack of loose materials in school playgrounds have a look at Teacher Toms latest post for photos of a truly uninspiring playground...
http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/one-big-playroom.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TeacherTom+%28Teacher+Tom%29&utm_content=Google+UK
Discovering how nature changes me and the amazing young people I spend time with......
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Loose Materials
So many of the school or playgrounds I visit have no loose material at all, the only activities on offer are sport, or maybe games like hide and seek if there are any plants left to hide behind.
Today I went into the playground at one of the schools I visit regularly and was greeted by a group of year 3 pupils, who I don't know, demanding that I follow them to see their 'settlement'. When the group of around 20 pupils parted I saw the most amazing village, created from the few loose items they had scavenged from their flat and featureless landscape...
They have even found some labels which they have used to name the different areas including the circus and the church.
3 year groups, upto 20 children at a time were working together, communicating their ideas and sorting out any difficulties to create an amazing fantasy land.
Several staff are now keen to enourage the creativity and we've discussed other loose materials that we could import from the vast parkland that ajoins the school.
I can't wait until I visit again to see how the settlement, and its creators have developed...
Monday, 7 March 2011
Spring Flowers
I'm not a great fan of children mixing with technology too much-in fact theres a no tv on school days rule and a 2 hour screen time limit at weekends which makes me pretty strict according to my two.
However Cj spent a happy two hours looking closely at her surroundings, thinking about what makes a good composition, trying to create a few arty shots...
...and enjoying the beauty around her.
Maybe just a little technology can be a good thing, only don't tell my two I said that!!
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Get Outdoors!!!!
Held an explorer session in some local woods today(see http://swwgblog1.blogspot.com/ for more info). The children had a fantastic time, getting muddy and helping with a litter pick despite the cold and the damp. Yes there were signs of spring to look and listen for, but actually they, and us grown ups, were just enjoying being outdoors...
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Raindrops are falling.......
Torrential rain today but much milder so we went out for a welly walk(without wellies sadly as they had been left at school in the friday rush). After investigating how wet we got by shaking a tree over our heads and stood listening to the torrent of water in the drains Cj decided to see how many times raindrops bounce...
...whilst Wh was more intererested in how many swings it took to empty the puddle...
...the answer-about 15, with most of the water having soaked into his trousers!!!!
We had a great time and got throughly soaked, which was a good excuse to head home, wrap up warm and have hot chocolate. But while we got dry and warmed up I realised we hadn't seen any other children out playing, in fact the only two other people we had seen walking were out with their dogs.
Where was everybody else.......?
Thursday, 20 January 2011
What is it about Ice???
Another cold one today-barely above freezing all day and the fog never did lift. So much to Wh's delight the bird bath was frozen when he got home. Only a thin layer maybe 2 or 3 mm thick but enough for him to spend half an hour exploring it.
He started by tentatively breaking the sheet into smaller pieces-one of which looked like a dagger so was used to pretend he was a rampaging pirate. Then he realised when he dropped the ice it shattered, so started to experiment how hard he needed to throw it before it broke into really small pieces, he'd clearly been paying attention to a conversation with his Dad last night about 'force'!! (For the safety conscious amongst us Wh and I did have a conversation about when and where you are allowed to throw things before he got too carried away.)
Once all the ice was scattered across the road he thought he would investigate how cold the water that was left was, by dipping his foot in, school shoes and all-at which point I decided enough exploring for today!
The whole thing left me wondering what is it about ice that we want to test it with our weight, watch it crack, and enjoy throwing things onto it. All through the cold spell the canal near to us was frozen and the debris on the top was astounding by the time it started to melt-people, yes adults included, seem compelled to try to break it.
I worked with some young people recently and they spent a happy hour smashing the ice on the (nearly empty/under renovation/no wildlife in it) pond. The energy they expended turned them from angry and unhappy to calmer and able to verbalise their emotions. Yes it appeared destructive and negative but that's how they were feeling!!
I enjoyed breaking the ice too, but I was also able to enjoy its splendour, holding large sheets up to the sunlight and seeing the patterns created there. The students weren't ready for the beauty yet-but hopefully after a few more sessions working on their anger, they can start to really see for the first time some of the wonderful nature that surrounds them...
He started by tentatively breaking the sheet into smaller pieces-one of which looked like a dagger so was used to pretend he was a rampaging pirate. Then he realised when he dropped the ice it shattered, so started to experiment how hard he needed to throw it before it broke into really small pieces, he'd clearly been paying attention to a conversation with his Dad last night about 'force'!! (For the safety conscious amongst us Wh and I did have a conversation about when and where you are allowed to throw things before he got too carried away.)
Once all the ice was scattered across the road he thought he would investigate how cold the water that was left was, by dipping his foot in, school shoes and all-at which point I decided enough exploring for today!
The whole thing left me wondering what is it about ice that we want to test it with our weight, watch it crack, and enjoy throwing things onto it. All through the cold spell the canal near to us was frozen and the debris on the top was astounding by the time it started to melt-people, yes adults included, seem compelled to try to break it.
I worked with some young people recently and they spent a happy hour smashing the ice on the (nearly empty/under renovation/no wildlife in it) pond. The energy they expended turned them from angry and unhappy to calmer and able to verbalise their emotions. Yes it appeared destructive and negative but that's how they were feeling!!
I enjoyed breaking the ice too, but I was also able to enjoy its splendour, holding large sheets up to the sunlight and seeing the patterns created there. The students weren't ready for the beauty yet-but hopefully after a few more sessions working on their anger, they can start to really see for the first time some of the wonderful nature that surrounds them...
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Thrushes galore
Another observation by C this morning-2 song thrushes on the green. We have never had thrushes locally until the last 12 months-I'm guessing the cover wasn't right before with there being no mature trees as its a newish estate. Last year we began to get regular visits from a mistle thrush, singing its heart out from the roof tops and then in the last few months we have seen song thrushes around occasionally. Imagine our joy at finding some broken open snail shells in our front garden last week-maybe my salad leaves will be safe at last!!!
That's provided the thrushes hang around now all the bushes have been cut back to the barest branches by the council,at least its been done before any of the birds should have started prospecting for nest sites-although the blue tits have already been surveying our nest box so love is definitely in the air already for some birds...
That's provided the thrushes hang around now all the bushes have been cut back to the barest branches by the council,at least its been done before any of the birds should have started prospecting for nest sites-although the blue tits have already been surveying our nest box so love is definitely in the air already for some birds...
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Miserable Monday...
Ok not Monday,Tuesday but my first day back at work for two weeks so it feels like a Monday-and worst of all catching up on paperwork-filing and emailing etc so I resigned myself to a day of drudgery. Then my gorgeous girl made my day...running up to the office window with a beaming smile.
Overflowing with excitement she eventually managed to explain that she had been playing hide and seek with W and whilst stood at the bottom of a tree a flock of a dozen long tailed tits had landed above her head, staying for a few minute,calling to each other and giving her a perfect view. A joyful memory for her, and a joyful memory for me-the smile and excitement of truly experiencing nature...
Overflowing with excitement she eventually managed to explain that she had been playing hide and seek with W and whilst stood at the bottom of a tree a flock of a dozen long tailed tits had landed above her head, staying for a few minute,calling to each other and giving her a perfect view. A joyful memory for her, and a joyful memory for me-the smile and excitement of truly experiencing nature...
Monday, 3 January 2011
Happy New Year!!
A mild start to the new year has finally meant a return for our small birds in the garden, after weeks of silence and nothing entering our frost pocket back garden this morning we had several blackbirds, a wren, a robin, a chaffinch and great, blue and coal tits. It made me realise just how much I'd missed them whilst eating my morning toast.
It helps I think that I haven't tided at all outside so there is leaf litter everywhere which the blackbirds and robins are scattering to the four corners of the garden. They've also repeatedly pulled up my garlic and onions which were struggling anyway having been planted out just before the first snowfall. My patience will be tested I think whilst I wait to see whether any have rooted or not despite all their tribulations!!
We went for an extended family walk today at our local quarry and the small birds there were very busy catching up on their feeding. Within a few minutes we had seen a nuthatch on the peanut feeder adjacent to the car park but my two were most pleased by the woodpecker we heard before we'd even got out of the car-couldn't see it but the drumming was impressive. Spring is definitely in the air for the birds, even if its going to be a while longer before it feels like it for us.....
It helps I think that I haven't tided at all outside so there is leaf litter everywhere which the blackbirds and robins are scattering to the four corners of the garden. They've also repeatedly pulled up my garlic and onions which were struggling anyway having been planted out just before the first snowfall. My patience will be tested I think whilst I wait to see whether any have rooted or not despite all their tribulations!!
We went for an extended family walk today at our local quarry and the small birds there were very busy catching up on their feeding. Within a few minutes we had seen a nuthatch on the peanut feeder adjacent to the car park but my two were most pleased by the woodpecker we heard before we'd even got out of the car-couldn't see it but the drumming was impressive. Spring is definitely in the air for the birds, even if its going to be a while longer before it feels like it for us.....
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Mini creatures
Spent the day outside so of course the lovely weather had disappeared: cooler, overcast and light drizzle-much more appropriate for this time of year but I missed the burst of sunshine and warmth from earlier this week.
It was an autumn clear up day with no little people, just little creatures to keep me company. Had a large area of production beds to clear which kept the robin happy-all the insects and worms were laid out buffet style and it certainly made the most of the bonanza.
Reluctantly I carried on with my task of weeding, large numbers of nettles most of which stung me as I pulled them out! However it was worth it because kneeling low down, hidden by the plants I was suddenly surrounded by a flock of long tailed tits chattering away incessantly-checking in with each other all the time, and then just as suddenly they were gone, only to be replaced by a wren, less than two foot away from me.
Its certainly been a day for small creatures all of which gave me infinite pleasure...
It was an autumn clear up day with no little people, just little creatures to keep me company. Had a large area of production beds to clear which kept the robin happy-all the insects and worms were laid out buffet style and it certainly made the most of the bonanza.
Next I moved into the walled garden and found the most gorgeous little lizard hiding against the wall-I could have watched it all day it was stunning. The saying small but perfectly formed is true!!!
Its certainly been a day for small creatures all of which gave me infinite pleasure...
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Mists and all that
Another stunning day. Last night was much colder and there was a real chill in the air as I left the house at 730. The mist over the fields waxed and waned, in some places so thick you could only see a foot or two from the roadside, and watching the sun rise above the mist reminded me of how small we are and I was thankful to the queue of traffic for my enforced slowing down so I could savour the view.
Why as adults do we find it so hard to slow, where does the pressure to go faster and rush from place to place come from? I have spent the day with children who could happily spend an hour examining a maple seed. They played helicopters and then carefully dissected the seed from its locomotive source, and then wondered allowed how difficult it was to open the seed case and how did it happen without any help. Finally they prised them open and were rewarded with the bright green 'tree' all curled up, waiting for the right conditions to grow.
Just like our children, who also need the right conditions to grow, including the opportunities to slow down and stop, and equally as important, adults who are prepared to slow down and stop with them-sharing those experiences.
As American naturalist Rachel Carson wrote: "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." My pledge to my children, and all the children I come into contact with is to be that adult-can you slow down enough to make the same pledge.....?
Why as adults do we find it so hard to slow, where does the pressure to go faster and rush from place to place come from? I have spent the day with children who could happily spend an hour examining a maple seed. They played helicopters and then carefully dissected the seed from its locomotive source, and then wondered allowed how difficult it was to open the seed case and how did it happen without any help. Finally they prised them open and were rewarded with the bright green 'tree' all curled up, waiting for the right conditions to grow.
Just like our children, who also need the right conditions to grow, including the opportunities to slow down and stop, and equally as important, adults who are prepared to slow down and stop with them-sharing those experiences.
As American naturalist Rachel Carson wrote: "If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." My pledge to my children, and all the children I come into contact with is to be that adult-can you slow down enough to make the same pledge.....?
Monday, 11 October 2010
Autumn Beauty
What an amazing day. Dragons breath this morning much to C and W's delight-our first properly cold night and as the sun rose the sky was the most dazzling blue. The leaf colour is becoming more intense every day and because its been so dry the leaves that are on the ground are crinkly and crunchy, perfect for wellie walks. W has discovered that a conker is a whole tree in his hand and is avidly collecting them to plant a whole forest. Another child I know can't wait and instead of collecting seeds, picks any seed head he finds and plants it instantly-he is desperate to spread the beauty of trees as quickly as he can.
The birds seem to be making the most of the plentiful insect supply and are ignoring the feeders-a large flock of longtailed tits spent a happy hour hunting under the peeling bark of our neighbours eucalyptus with much chatter and frivolity. They are a household favourite-how could they not be when they are so fluffy and they bob with that ridiculously long tail!
A definite day to stand and stare...
The birds seem to be making the most of the plentiful insect supply and are ignoring the feeders-a large flock of longtailed tits spent a happy hour hunting under the peeling bark of our neighbours eucalyptus with much chatter and frivolity. They are a household favourite-how could they not be when they are so fluffy and they bob with that ridiculously long tail!
A definite day to stand and stare...
Monday, 6 September 2010
Wind in the Willow
Really windy today-children hyper, caught up in the gusts and swirling round as fast as the leaves and small branches that have been dislodged from the trees. The willow circle looked amazing, the silver of the leaves glinting like a shoal of fish twisting and turning. No rain yet today despite the forecast and it still feels warm but autumn is definitely in the air. Saw field maples today with their leaves already yellow and Wh came home from the library with a bag full of books and a bag full of conkers still in their cases-they look so full of promise, I wait with interest to see how big the seeds inside are...
No birds this afternoon, but over the last few days the smaller ones are flocking together, greenfinches, goldfinches and blue tits, keeping each other company and providing safety in numbers.The sparrows keep themselves to themselves but then they are a flock on their own, 26 was our highest count-not bad for a garden that previously has only seen the odd one or two. The blackbirds and Robin have been back this week too having been absent since about July, not regular visits yet but enough to let us know they are around and about.
Unlike the collared doves who have been brazenly mating whilst on the feeder a few feet from the kitchen window, difficult to ignore as were the questions it led to from Wh!!!! What with the doves, the cabbage white butterflies and the wood pigeons you could be forgiven for thinking about spring rather than autumn.
The veg patch is looking too tired to continue the illusion though, and the pumpkins give the game away, a gorgeous orange colour and swelling nicely with the rain and more due tomorrow. Shame there isn't more sun forecast yet as my tomatoes are looking very green still-chutney rather than pasta sauce is looking a distinct possibility!!!
No birds this afternoon, but over the last few days the smaller ones are flocking together, greenfinches, goldfinches and blue tits, keeping each other company and providing safety in numbers.The sparrows keep themselves to themselves but then they are a flock on their own, 26 was our highest count-not bad for a garden that previously has only seen the odd one or two. The blackbirds and Robin have been back this week too having been absent since about July, not regular visits yet but enough to let us know they are around and about.
Unlike the collared doves who have been brazenly mating whilst on the feeder a few feet from the kitchen window, difficult to ignore as were the questions it led to from Wh!!!! What with the doves, the cabbage white butterflies and the wood pigeons you could be forgiven for thinking about spring rather than autumn.
The veg patch is looking too tired to continue the illusion though, and the pumpkins give the game away, a gorgeous orange colour and swelling nicely with the rain and more due tomorrow. Shame there isn't more sun forecast yet as my tomatoes are looking very green still-chutney rather than pasta sauce is looking a distinct possibility!!!
Thursday, 2 September 2010
1st September 2010
Welcome to a year in the wildlife of my family!!
After a long summer holiday which involved, amongst others, listening for wild boar in the woods, hunting for water voles in the pouring rain and watching merlins chase above us in the peak district, its the final day of the summer break and we're contenting ourselves with the nature in our back garden...
Early breakfast to get us back into the routine!!! and we get a great show of the house martins skimming the roof tops. It was a cold night again last night, so the children get a fantastic view and the air is filled with the calls of the birds and the "Wow's" and "Wooo's" of my two wishing they could be up there with them.
Lunch in the garden and we're watching the butterflies and hoverflies get their lunch too. Whilst we enjoy cheese and ham rolls they are lunching on verbena, which is in full flower, and getting a little taster of the sedum on which the buds are just beginning to break. There is a persistent painted lady, maybe one of the ones Cj hatched earlier in the year, and it doesn't leave for the whole hour we are sitting there. The children are fascinated by its eyes "they're freaky" and its proboscis, watching it dip in and out of the flowers. Cj wants to know how the pollen creates seeds, she already knows the stigma and stamen, so we get the books out and look at pictures of dissected flowers and ovaries, with her comparing them to the flowers in front of us. We are also lucky and get a small copper join us for lunch, a first in our garden, and it is truly beautiful in the summer sunshine.
The next find is not a new addition but a plentiful one, as it seems to have been a record ladybird year with the children finding one on nearly every plant in the garden and almost as many pupae waiting to hatch. Wh loves the tickly feeling they create walking across his fingers and keeps trying to persuade them onto his hand, not sure they like the taste of cheese tho, unlike the wasp which keeps returning to rest on WH's discarded cheddar!!!
A little later whilst i'm cooking there is a yell from the garden and when I head out to investigate the children are captivated by the collection of butterflies on the gable end of the house enjoying the warmth of the evening sun. There are 8, one each of small tortoiseshell, peacock and red admiral, but the others refusing to open their wings to give us a recognisable view. They seem happy to stay and I have to call the children in several times to eat before they are prepared to leave the butterflies to their sunbathing, maybe they all feel its the last of the summer...
After a long summer holiday which involved, amongst others, listening for wild boar in the woods, hunting for water voles in the pouring rain and watching merlins chase above us in the peak district, its the final day of the summer break and we're contenting ourselves with the nature in our back garden...
Early breakfast to get us back into the routine!!! and we get a great show of the house martins skimming the roof tops. It was a cold night again last night, so the children get a fantastic view and the air is filled with the calls of the birds and the "Wow's" and "Wooo's" of my two wishing they could be up there with them.
Lunch in the garden and we're watching the butterflies and hoverflies get their lunch too. Whilst we enjoy cheese and ham rolls they are lunching on verbena, which is in full flower, and getting a little taster of the sedum on which the buds are just beginning to break. There is a persistent painted lady, maybe one of the ones Cj hatched earlier in the year, and it doesn't leave for the whole hour we are sitting there. The children are fascinated by its eyes "they're freaky" and its proboscis, watching it dip in and out of the flowers. Cj wants to know how the pollen creates seeds, she already knows the stigma and stamen, so we get the books out and look at pictures of dissected flowers and ovaries, with her comparing them to the flowers in front of us. We are also lucky and get a small copper join us for lunch, a first in our garden, and it is truly beautiful in the summer sunshine.
The next find is not a new addition but a plentiful one, as it seems to have been a record ladybird year with the children finding one on nearly every plant in the garden and almost as many pupae waiting to hatch. Wh loves the tickly feeling they create walking across his fingers and keeps trying to persuade them onto his hand, not sure they like the taste of cheese tho, unlike the wasp which keeps returning to rest on WH's discarded cheddar!!!
A little later whilst i'm cooking there is a yell from the garden and when I head out to investigate the children are captivated by the collection of butterflies on the gable end of the house enjoying the warmth of the evening sun. There are 8, one each of small tortoiseshell, peacock and red admiral, but the others refusing to open their wings to give us a recognisable view. They seem happy to stay and I have to call the children in several times to eat before they are prepared to leave the butterflies to their sunbathing, maybe they all feel its the last of the summer...
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