Greetings Beaver Families!
Another week of lovely weather made for more delightful school days. The warmer mornings, lush greenery, and pretty wildflowers are just a few of the signs of spring that mark the change of season so beautifully. We are observing more wildlife as well; from caterpillars to melodious bird songs to blue-tailed skinks and even a few fish in the creek - the forest is truly alive :)
We spent Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon at the creek this week, which will be our plan moving forward through the end of the year. The afternoons are the warmest and best time for splashing. Please note, however, that the students only enter the creek to their ankles and therefore bathing suits are not required. A sturdy, hard-soled pair of water shoes or other shoes that work well in water is all that is needed. Also please note that although they are only dipping their feet, their bodies do sometimes (or all the time!) get wet as they fill and pour buckets and sit in the wet sand. We do make a conscious effort to prevent the children from becoming completely drenched. :)
Currently, at the creek, the children are digging for clay and examining the different colors of the clay they find. Clay is collected into a large bucket and used to help strengthen the motes and other sand structures that they build. Some students like to collect small snails and watch to see if they poke their heads out of their tiny shell homes. Others enjoy collecting rocks, making mud balls, and creating art in the sand. There is quite a bit of teamwork that happens at the creek as well. Once the students settle in, they usually create a goal and assign tasks to get the job done. A popular activity is creating a water slide with sand and keeping the walls on either side strong enough so that they do not collapse. We will hear things like “More water - wait! Now more sand! Yesss!”
The treehouse seemed to be the center of play in the forest this week. It was a base for playing tag, a place to relax and visit with friends, and the location of a myriad of other adventure games. The momentum of students climbing up the ladder and going down the slide was a constant, gleeful motion. There is something magical about a treehouse that inspires endless creativity and unparalleled imagination.
We also spent two afternoons in the playground. Until recently, the tire swing was the favorite place to be but it appears that the climbing dome has now replaced it. The children are building their confidence in climbing skills as they make their way to the top and then drop down through the middle. They were practicing taking turns dropping through so that everyone stayed safe and once they were tired of that, an imaginative game took shape underneath the dome.
Our story this week was “Mashenka and the Bear” and we had a lot of fun with it! Mashenka wandered from the path as she was picking blueberries with her friends and became lost. She found a small cottage and let herself in. Soon, the bear who lived in the cottage returned home. The bear wanted Mashenka to stay with him to keep him company. She cried and begged to go home but he would not let her. He took good care of her and she baked and cooked and cleaned but every day she missed her parents more. Mashenka was a clever girl and formed a plan to escape. She asked the bear if he would take pies to her family to let them know she is OK. He took pity on her and obliged the request and Mashenka began baking right away. She told the bear that she would need a much larger basket for all the pies she baked. Once he left in search of a new basket, Mashenka set to work on her plan. She fashioned a stick, ball, and curtain to look like herself and placed it on the roof of the cottage. She then climbed into the large basket when the bear was not looking, placed the pies on top of herself and a cloth over top. As the bear journeys toward town, he tries to sit down many times to rest and eat some pie. How does this story unfold? Ask your Beaver to tell you :)
On Friday, we painted with Ki Fatima in Privet Pocket, across from the forest. Each painting is so lovely and whimsical and unique. Watercolor allows the children to simply experience color and all of its enchanting possibilities. There are no lines to stay within or a predetermined image to create, which allows their interaction with the paint and color to be natural, flowing, and full of creativity. We are so thankful for Ki Fatima’s gentle and talented guidance in preparing this opportunity for the children each week.
During Golden Knights this week, we took nature walks to collect flowers and pretty greens that we then wove into a nature weaving wall or used to make leaf printings with hammers. Each student arranged their leaves and flowers on a piece of cloth, covered the cloth with a paper towel, and then hammered the cloth until the dyes from the plants transferred and made a print on the cloth. They were very responsible with the hammers and enjoyed the craft so much that we did it two days in a row!
As always, thank you for sharing your children with us and entrusting us to their care. We are excited for all of the fun the lies ahead in this last stretch of the school year!
Kindly,
Ki Amy and Ki Fatima
