The Eagles meet a City of Richmond worker who takes time to explain why she is draining the water pipes. Our children are captivated by her dramatic story. We love connecting with people in our community- what an unexpected surprise!

Nicole helps Ian to re- adjust his glove. Caring and kindness are qualities we live and breathe at Nature School.

Mason and Andy use the field guide to identify a plant. Listening to their theories is amazing- they are truly learning to discriminate based on certain attributes.

Taking a break from active play, Ayleen pulls out 2 very different books to look at. I wonder what she is thinking as she looks at the book on Chinese New Year.

Nicholas uses his problem solving skills to match the pieces to the drawing. What systems is he using to figure this out? I need more time to observe his play.

Free art promotes creativity and playful interactions with the materials. Theia and Lorraine work side by side, sharing materials but no words.

Levi plops down in the puddle; no fear, no hesitancy; children are wonderful about taking risks.

A natural mud kitchen on a super rainy day! Avery spends most of her time filling up bowls and pans with mud and watching how the mud moves. Hayden, in the background, is looking for a partner to play ball. Zoya is working with the mud too. Sometime people just want to do their own thing!

Misuzu helps Ludwig and Zoë construct something taller than they can reach. Her interest and support sends them the message that their work is important and valued.

The Eagles use field guides to identify various plants.

Beautiful! Araceli invites Lorraine to hold hands while they walk.

These Owls hypothesize about why there are bird seeds on the bench. Answers include “an eagle dropped them , a racoon was here and a person left them.”

Will looks very closely at this small twig and wonders what it is.

Having fun sharing this puddle; watching the water swirl and splash.

Yohan joyfully ducks in and out of the tree forest, learning to look after his face and body.

Heidi introduces a new game to the Owls; they listen attentively to learn the rules. We play this twice this week, the second time far more successfully than the first. It takes time to process and understand new information.

Loose parts exploration– Miles and Esuh chat while working, playing with designs.

Tricia supports an imaginary play of ships, sharks, fishing for octopus and stormy waves.

A lovely connection between Tricia and Nika.

Ariel reaches, reaches and reaches to touch the bud on the end of the branch. She is determined! What makes us give up on some things and not on others?

Julie tells a captivating story using wooden figures; visual supports add a new dimension to stories, often enhancing the experience for children.

The Eagles get stuck in quite the downpour of rain. Now back in the Cottage, they are cozy and cuddling while we work on a story together.

A new game for the Eagles- matching animal clues to their animal card. It is quite challenging but we see they are engaged and are using all their knowledge to come up with the answers. Perhaps we shall try the same exact animals again this week and see what transpires.

A common theme for this group– they often find something to sit on to line up in a row like this. It is playful, fun and has meaning for them as they pretend to be kittens in a row or on a train.

Snack in the glorious sunshine in the Healing Garden.

Tyler is determined to finish zipping up his snack by himself despite the zipper getting stuck. This relates to our image of the child as competent and skilled. Making time for Tyler to finish his task allows him the opportunity to develop his fine motor skills and well as develop his pride.

Ludwig invites his friends Mason, Ken, Zoë and Brianna to cover him up with gravel. Doe he enjoy the weight of the rocks? Is he excited about ‘bursting’ out of the covering? His friends find it very funny- will they want a turn too?

Making Valentines Day envelopes to put on our bins in the pod. Friendship is a a theme that weaves into our curriculum all year but it is fun to mark its importance with a special day. Being a good friend takes a lot of thought and consideration, for both children and adults. Talking about it and taking positive action is supported at school.

Owen is completely captivated by this worm and then notices there is a small plant and exclaims ” I think the worm is going to eat this plant. I am going to watch it.”

The Owls hard at work weeding one of our garden beds in preparation for future planting.

Worms, soil, weeds, and beetle larvae all provide for learning and fun in the garden.

Ariel helps to take out the rotting pumpkin vines. Hands on learning like this teaches about the life cycle of a plant and the seasons in a very real and concrete way.

Finn discovers a carrot and pulls it from the soil. We are equally amazed by its diameter and length. Perhaps not so delicious though?

This campfire play continues on in the Owl group. They have set aside their loose parts for this play and I wonder if they will build it again this week. It is important for our staff team to bring in something new to continue the play and see where it can go. What shall we add in?

Participating in household chores is important for our children to learn. The Owls help take in our green bin, recycling and garbage can.

What teachers put up not their walls reveals a lot about their teaching style. Mr Vines creates an open atmosphere of learning for all.

After the videos, Mr Vines asked the buddy teams to think about the explorer’s journey and wonders if they were mainly driven by knowledge, hope or friendship. He then requests them to show this concept by using their loose parts. Some interesting work develops!

Nathan spends a long time trying to make ‘something to catch the wind.”

Andy spends most of his indoor time throughout the week on building in this area. By offering the same materials for an extended period of time, children have a chance to extend their own play.

Outdoor painting in the Beaver Group.

Gifted a natural bird seed feeder by Levi’s family, the Owls return the next day to see if the birds ate the seeds. The general consensus is that another animal ate the seeds and “left a big mess!”

Ella and Damian dismantle the rice sensory tray and pour the rice onto the mat, pretending it is sushi. Next cooking project in the works!

Working together to complete this tricky puzzle, Cyrus and Owen patiently put in one piece at a time. Working together builds friendship and confidence as when Cyrus says ” I cannot find it”, Owen replies ” I can help”.

The Owls making Valentine cards.

Yohan and Finn make tracks for their cars. Will this grow into something more?

Heidi finds some lichen on a fallen branch and wonders what kind it is so she opens the field guide to compare. Abby is curious as well and helps Heidi to match the photo to the specimen.

Conor pretends he is a pirate and uses the kaleidoscope as his viewer.

Chaos in the pod as our wonderful parents help their children put Valentines in their envelopes.

How amazing is it that children are given tubes and stuff their little bodies into them to play rolling and crashing games?

Finn makes a car, designing the components carefully so he doesn’t roll off. Soon, tubes are carried over and children are filling up his car with gas. I think Hayden says something about “diesel”!

Lorraine and Annabelle make a perfect seat for themselves but then do not know what to do with it afterwards. Annabelle soon decides she wants to relax even more and looks for ways to make this structure into a bed!

Keaton builds a train and soon Elsa and Finn hop on as passengers. There is a lot of negotiating to be the driver- a perfect opportunity to practice turn taking skills.

Connor and Nicholas are gathering pieces to make their own car. Nicholas is trying to fit the steering wheel into the longer block but it is tricky with mittens on!

Zoya uses the blocks as a bed, most likely stemming from Annabelle’s bed idea.

The Eagles walk along the narrow, sometimes prickly and frozen trail to the Beaver Dam. This is a place we will visit frequently as there is a tree slowly been chewed on by a beaver so we are beginning an ongoing inquiry. More to come…

The children instigate a game of “Eagle” all by themselves. Mason, Esuh and Nathan are hiding from the Eagle. It is so wonderful to see them manage games by themselves now!

The 3 smallest Eagles insist on pulling the heavy wagon.

Children explore making a 3D piece of work and then try to capture the design one dimensionally.

Brianna and Zoë focus on a new game which invites deep critical thinking skills. They are solving this puzzle by trial and error. How will they approach this activity next time?

Ezra and Andy enjoy playing “Labyrinth” , a rather complex board game. It seems they are making up their own rules, which is working for both of them. A lovely moment of cooperation and friendship!

The Eagles draw their ideas about ‘how to catch a star’- something that both Eagles and Owls are currently working on in response to a story “How to Catch a Star”. We have only read half the book so that children have space to invent their own ideas before anything is answered for them. At Nature School, we do our best to leave questions unanswered as much as we can so that children can develop their own theories. There is a time and pace for answers- it is not easy knowing when is the right time; we struggle with this all the time.

Avery draws a picture of her family.

Nell is copying the bird field guide. I love to see her focus so carefully on the attributes of each bird.

Ella confidently approaches this challenging puzzle and takes 2 days to finish it. She works with patience and uses spatial discrimination to complete the puzzle.

Barry reads a story about a bear to the Eagles. A beautiful book that will be sure to spark further readings and conversation. Thanks Barry!

Practising their balance and social skills, Yohan and Ayleen move blocks from one end of the driveway to the other.

Heidi teaches the children a new game called “Owls and Crows”. The children listen attentively; it is important for the children to learn to stop, listen and pay attention even during our seemingly free outdoor playtimes.

Good friends!

Captivated by a Great Blue Heron stalking its prey, Nicole and Nell watch intently as they wait for its next move.

More Great Blue Heron gazing- we are learning how to be still and quiet.

This photo is very similar to one I took last year of Hannah and Kaya bending over on the road. Bodies bigger and intellect advanced but still the same curious cuties they were last year. They are investigating a slug.

Alison and Mason enjoy a private conversation together. I did not see what provoked this shared moment and I wonder what activity created this bond?

The Owls sketch a bird’s nest that is nestled in a nearby tree. Learning to look closely, focus on detail and develop fine motor skills are all learning benefits of sketching.

Finn collects dandelions and later finds an old container to make a vase for them. He fills it with water and wants to give it to his mom. So thoughtful and kind. It is interesting that children recognize flowers are special and therefore make a special gift.

Hayden enjoys carrying the pine collection along the pathways. Baskets and collecting is so appealing to children and adults. What else would Hayden be interested in collecting? How can we teach collecting without needing ownership- this idea is always in our minds at Nature School.

Esuh and Keaton have fun pushing the bucket around and making roadways. The bucket is generally used for storage but Esuh creatively turns it into a vehicle.

It is always fun to bring out new equipment, this set of blocks had been long forgotten. Nicholas, Will and Yohan spend a lot of time building, re-creating and then knocking them down. Building on uneven ground offers different challenges than building inside.

Connor experiments with the water colour mixing. What else can we put in the dish to use with the pipettes?

Elsa and Tricia enjoy a playful moment filled with laughter and later cuddles. It takes time and commitment to develop relationships; here we see the benefits of exactly this!

Connor and Ariel cautiously straddle the ditch. Developing their muscle strength and balance as well as their friendship.

Nathan, Nell, Miles and Ella paint their pestles in their small group. Based on their interest of crushing berries and other things, we are making personal mortar and pestle kits.

Mason loves this vest and belt. In fact he loves it so much that he puts it on everyday! Is it the fringe? Is it the holder for items such as the kitchen utensils? Is it the fabric? How does it make him feel when he wears it?

Beans, beans, beans- always beans to shell here at Nature School. Here we are shelling beans to give as gifts for parents that have spent extra time helping in our garden beds. Children learn to appreciate others and say thank you by giving something back.

Ella watches with interest as Nell uses the sand tray. Copying a design card, Nell practices her pre- writing skills in a sensorial way.

Spring-boarding off Ian’s work in his small group with Kate, Chloe invites Ian to think about the concept of shortest and longest.

We are fortunate to have a new volunteer, Barry, in our program. Barry is the grandfather of one of our students from last year and has stayed connected through his second granddaughter in our Parent & Tot class. It is so lovely to have Elders in our program, sharing their knowledge and warmth.

Ludwig becomes the door keeper to this house. This seems to be an ongoing theme that began outside in a tree fort area. There is a lot of learning around this as we discuss ideas around inclusion and group play.

The Owls work on their self-portraits for their documentation binder covers. It is interesting to observe them looking in the mirrors, marvelling at their features. How can they translate what they see to paper?

Pearson: looking closely

Lorraine begins drawing her face but then quickly shifts to drawing what she identifies as herself as a female; a dress and fancy clothes. This makes me wonder about children’s image of themselves and how it develops.

Chloe sets up a treasure hunt for one of the groups. Here they are reading their first clue. This idea stemmed from much dialogue about treasures, maps, “X” marks the spot and buried gems last week. Needless to say, these children are so excited to be on this adventure!

Ashton is learning about weight as he uses the scale to weigh sticks and pine cones.

Alison and Ken work together to create magnificent patterns on the walls and ceiling with the light projector.

Our team sits down to discuss children’s interests and learning opportunities. Looking at photos together allows for collaboration and generates new ideas. Each educator has a different lens which helps to guide our practice.

Kaya, Hannah and Alison wrap play dough with grasses. They are enjoying combining two different mediums. This kind of experimentation is so important to the creative process.

Ty watches Misuzu tune her ukulele. We are all eager to sing along with her.

Ashton patiently waits for his turn while Miles pours sand from pot to pot, sometimes with the funnel and sometimes without. Pouring is not only good for fine motor control but also provides a sensory experience as fingertips collect grains of sand.

Kate lays out a provocation in the studio based on the white rocks found a couple of weeks ago on the pathway. Nathan is making a house, with a door. Kate offers a gnome to be used in the structure.

Ayleen soothes Yohan as he sits by a log. She does not use words, but rather softly strokes his head, back and hand. A kind, gentle act.

Avery is learning how to manipulate the clay. She is thinking about adding other elements to her clay mound.

The Owls are learning how to play Duck, Duck, Goose.

While doing small group work, we run into Miles and Ty’s older siblings, gardening with their own schools with the Richmond Schoolyard Society. This is Quinn.

This is Ava.

Chloe, our Langara College practicum student, brings in a typewriter. The children are fascinated and learn how to find the letters of their name and punch the key hard enough to make a mark. Everyone wants a turn, including me!

Lorraine is making clay balls, experimenting with different sizes. Is she planning on using them for something or are they ‘just’ balls?

Cyrus and Owen are playing catch with a bean bag. This requires a lot of control so they don’t have to leave their hoop. They work very hard to hit their mark!

Cyrus makes a desk and a computer. He says ” I am working at my computer, doing work.” Notice he is typing on the keyboard.

The photo is nothing special but as Ken and Tyler walked along the side of the driveway, I could not help but marvel at how much they have learned to in 2 months; knowing they must walk on the grass to be safe from cars, these two very small children are ever so capable!

KIngston makes up his own obstacle course and runs through with speed and ease.

Gathering around to investigate mushrooms; we pull out our mushroom guide to try to identify them. The children are learning the power of mushrooms.

Many Eagles are interested in creating art on the gravel pathways; children are inspired by what is around them and continue to explore the materials in new ways. If you do not see art on our art shelf in the Cottage, know that children are making art each and every day when they are outside. We are learning to appreciate the non-permanency of our work.

After spending time in his small group and working on mashing berries, Damian continues his interest and mashes gravel with a stick, making his own mortar and pestle- so cool!

Zoë and Ian enjoy working together on making a pile of rocks and gravel. Did this activity help to support their new friendship or did their friendship help them to engage in this project together?

Abby, Maliya and Ariel scoop out the inside of our homegrown pumpkin. We talk about how each seed can grow many more new pumpkins- isn’t this amazing?

Yohan pauses in the middle of painting his name tag. He has just arrived to school this week and is figuring it all out. Might the cars he carried from the other play area offer a sense of security and familiarity?

The Owls re-hydrate some drying clay with water and use it to make prints on paper. The clay is still hard to manipulate and some children prefer to just “draw” with it while others persevere and try to mild it into a shape.

Ty and Ezra find interest in looking at their work from last year in their documentation binders. What are they thinking as they look back on their work and photos?

Kaya never, EVER has enough kale!

Earlier this day, whilst they were hidden under a tree canopy, Ella sang “Let It Go” to Mason. From that moment on, the two are connected, enjoying each other’s company. Perhaps she wooed him with her lovely vocals:)

Heidi catches a glimpse of a snake, quickly put on some gloves and is able to catch it to show the Eagle children. The snake has an injury, which leads to lots of ideas of how it might have happened, what it eats and comparisons to other animals.

Nicole, Alison, Brianna and Miles are working hard to cut through the squash from our garden to make a sinful recipe with loads of butter and brown sugar! Cooking communally is so important to most cultures; this is something we want to foster in our Nature School children!

The Owls go on a big excursion, investigating a new path. Some seem to be hesitant but most just plow on ahead without too much concern. What brings this sense of trust- us adults being with them, a trust in our land?

Hayden and Keaton learn how to brush on just the right amount of paint to make a nice print; this is not easy!

Araceli enjoys discovering the effects of making multiple prints before re-loading the rubber with more paint. I wonder how this will affect her use of paint next time it is offered.

If the picture had sound, you would hear hysterical laughing. Damian is doing something that he finds absolutely hilarious which cause Miles to laugh very hard too. This dialogue went on for quite a while- how wonderful to see them so happy, enjoying each other’s company and moving into this stage of social play.

Busy in the studio- it is so quiet, just the sound of “Please pass the orange” or “Pass the spider web” can be heard.

Mason stands proudly with his birthday crown. The children are very familiar with this ritual and now look excitedly to see what natural gem the birthday person chooses.

Ty asks me for the field guides to identify trees and birds.Ashton and Ezra are nearby and come over to investigate. They carry the guides for a long time, looking and discriminating.

Playful costumes provide a forum for creativity, social engagement and self awareness.

Alison paints her own face in the studio. Interestingly, she knows to keep it away from her eyes and lips. She is very pleased with her work. Usually children have their face painted by others, with a specific design. Maybe there is equal value to both ways?