I’ve decided to call it Backyard Ecology. This spring and summer the kids and I will study the living things of our backyard and some of how the ecosystem around us functions. I’ve been learning lately about project based learning where kids are in charge of their own learning according to their interests. My three little ones are definitely interested in being outside and their big brother spends a fair amount of time back there with them. So far we’ve found, photographed and identified a couple of red admiral butterflies. (PS- I know this is a bad picture but its really hard to capture a good photo of a butterfly with a phone, two giggly kids and a dog nearby!) We found out that they like to eat fermented fruit and bird droppings (that is hilarious) most of all, but if rotten fruit and poop aren’t readily available, they’ll settle for nectar.
While we haven’t discussed the importance of fire to nature, we did discuss its importance to roasting marshmallows. We learned a fire needs three things (simplistically): air, heat and fuel. We have air all around us, so we found some sticks and leaves, and a lighter to fulfill the requirements.
I’ll try to post what we learn, but they are already moving so fast with their interests its hard to keep up! After fire-making this weekend, we had a snack and a recess adventure in the woods. Then Natalie informed me it was time to go “home.”
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