Environmental Science Highlights

It feels as though spring is in the air, even though it is only mid-February!  Though 2012 has been a nearly snowless year, students at 2^nd Nature Academy and Nature's Pathways did have opportunities to look for mammal tracks this winter.  Our environmental science teacher instructed students on mammal track patterns and led students through the forest to discover signs of animal activity.  Many different animal tracks were seen.  These included deer, snowshoe hare, fox, squirrels, mice, and even a partridge!  Our kindergarten class was fortunate enough to see a snowshoe hare on two occasions; once when there was no snow on the ground, and once with snow cover.  The tracks in the snow gave a clue as to who had recently been there, and then upon looking around, the children were the first to spot the camouflaged hare in close proximity.  NH State Fish and Game provided us a Furbearer Kit on loan which gave students the opportunity to learn about these animals and to touch and examine the fur pelts and skulls of 14 different animals. 

Earlier this school year students washed, dyed and carded wool from the sheep that were sheared last spring.  They learned about the properties of wool and how warm wool is, even when wet.  Older students examined wool and other fibers under a microscope in the science center after a parent directed lesson.

As part of our Earth Science curriculum last fall, students collected soil samples from different locations to compare and determine sand, silt, and clay content.  They learned that different soil types support different flora and can help determine land use.

Autumn rains gave rise to a diverse assortment of mushrooms and other fungi which the younger students delighted in discovering and noticing how many had been nibbled by forest animals!  These students are also very adept at finding animal scat and other signs of animal activity.  True nature detectives!!

This spring we will be learning about wetland ecosystems and plan to explore the vernal pool to observe fairy shrimp and evidence of wood frog and salamander breeding.  We will also collect swamp and pond water samples to identify macroinvertebrate life.

Learning To Grow!

Playing in the dirt is a fun for a child of any age and at The Nature of Things we like going home with a little dirt under our fingernails.  Gardening with children offers many benefits besides tasty food and beautiful flowers.  It teaches patience, responsibility, and accountability.  Growing schoolyard gardens also instills a sense of pride and accomplishment.  Through gardening, children also learn the importance of taking care of living things and begin to appreciate the value of the physical work that goes into such tasks.  Moreover, they realize what fresh picked vegetables look like before they are cleaned, waxed, packaged, shipped, and displayed in a grocery store.  Children also learn valuable lessons such as eating healthy, respecting their environment, working cooperatively with others to help their garden grow, hands-on exploration, the wonders of science, and a plant’s life cycle.

First Roll-A-Thon

On June 1^st and 2^nd, 80 children from the preschool, pre-kindergarten, interim-kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary classes rode for a cause at our first annual roll-a-thon!  The children raised over $2000 in pledges to help local child cancer patients from the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Lebanon, NH.  A raffle, bake sale, and lemonade stand also raised funds for this amazing cause.  The kids had a blast riding around our own circle and were so proud of the number of laps they did!  Almost all of the children rode over a half mile (7.14 laps) with most riding between a mile (14.27 laps) to almost four miles!  Their smiles and laughter were a testament to a successful couple of days and the knowledge that they were riding “to help sick kids get better.”

Annual Sheep and Alpaca Shearing

 The students of Nature’s Pathways and 2^nd Nature Academy recently observed the annual sheep and alpaca shearing.  The animals grow warm waterproof coats to insulate them from the elements in the winter.  Each spring Malcolm Cooper visits the school and shaves the animals with electric shears.   Malcolm explained to the children that shearing alpaca and sheep is similar to giving boys a “buzz haircut” and that it doesn’t hurt them at all.  The fiber is then washed, dried, and used for various crafts both at school and at summer camp.

 

Painted Lady Butterflies

On Friday May 6, 2010, the kindergarten classes released their Painted Lady Butterflies.  Over the past three and a half weeks, the students watched the larvae grow into large furry caterpillars and then transform into chrysalises.  After spring break, the students were excited to find Painted Ladies emerging from their chrysalises.  They were pleased to release the butterflies in a field of blooming wildflowers, where they will feed and lay their eggs and continue the Painted Lady life cycle.

 

Earth Day

On Friday, April 22, The Nature of Things joined forces and pitched in to help get our Earth clean in celebration of Earth Day.  Preschool through Elementary school children scoured the campus, as well as the Dunstable Rural Land Trust woods, to pick up trash.  The kids had a great time and enjoyed cleaning up their "outdoor classroom".  Their efforts are to be commended!

Spring is in the Air, and in the Pond…

For many, the sound of peepers is a true indicator of spring.  The recent arrival of warm weather has brought with it a chorus of peepers, wood frogs, and tree frogs echoing each evening from our pond out back.  This amphibian melody prompted us to venture out to the pond with boots on feet and nets in hand.  Although it was a bit early in the season to actually find any frog eggs, we did discover a plethora of early stages of life.  After viewing many samples of pond water, the entomologists in training excitedly observed midge larvae, backswimmer nymphs, giant water bug nymphs, and various other insect species.  In addition, the children noticed a northern water snake sunning itself on a fallen branch before it quickly slithered away beneath the water.  Wild creatures were not the only animals the children observed.  Our Indian Runner ducks paddled ashore looking for some tasty morsels.