An Autumn Investigation

Yesterday we went on what the children like to call “a navigation”! At our morning meeting, we decided we all wanted to go on a walkabout, with the sun so bright and the wind so warm. But what did we want to discover?? “The stream!” the children all cheered.

Now, we all know that you can get to this very stream if you just walk up the little road to the right of the slide, yes? But what happens if you begin on the far side of the playground, where the woods are thick with brambles and the path is not yet made??

We discovered many, many things on our exploration in navigation! Here are some of our discoveries:

• Courage (when faced with briar bushes and steep hills)
• Friendship and teamwork
• Listening skills (to each other and to nature)
• Birds, squirrels and their songs
• How to follow the sound of running water as our compass
• Water and what flows in and around it
• TREES! Below is some of our investigation into trees, which has been an ongoing theme this fall. Some things we found:
  • Insects, their trails and other evidence of them
  • How to tell if a tree is living
  • That roots are strong, but need to be well-rooted in the earth to keep a tree alive
  • That each tree is unique and different
  • AND FUN!!

Peeling back the bark of an old tree stump, we discovered other worlds!! Fungi and insects, new textures, colors and smells!

Sooo much to discover.

Why is the tree cold and moist on the bottom of the trunk, but dry up higher?

Hugging trees is great. Thanks,Tree.

Aaah, ha! Here is the stream! We found it!! We discovered it!!

Now, we can play!