Friday

Friday was a really fun teaching experience for me. The walk from the esker to the beach and then the bog provided endless opportunities for teachable moments (as Larry would say!). The kids could easily identify where the lake used to be. They all thought it was fascinating how such a large lake could just disappear! Garlic mustard proved to be a good teaching tool as well- I let them smell it, guess what it was, and then taste it if they wanted to (some couldn't stop eating it!). We talked about native species then and how invasives can take over an ecosystem. We also had fun looking for all the trees with their roots sticking out of the ground- and discussed how we do that with our noses (when we're in water) so we can breathe too! There were skunk cabbage that was growing near the bog- that was a teachable moment too. (and a girl actually knew the name from reading My Side of the Mountain!). No one complained, no one wanted to go back, no one asked when we were eating. Some even asked when they could come back! They were happy, chomping away at garlic mustard, with their sticky, peat covered fingers. I was happy too.
The one thing I do need to improve on is also, as Kati said, that I need to introduce myself better (I sometimes forget). Also, to explain to the kids in more depth about what we are going to be doing and what they are free to do- like on our long walk to look for flowers in the afternoon. I think both of these will come to me- when I decide to slow down and take a breath. :)