St Thomas's reception class came to the Hazelhut today to learn about insects and mini beasts. We were lucky to have sunshine almost all day! In the vegetable garden we found black and green aphids on some of our plants, we could also see bigger insects which feed off them. Ottavia had read that burying banana skins under infected plants can deter aphids, so we planted the skins from our banana snacks under the fava beans. We looked at the many different plants growing in the veg patch and some children tried peas and strawberries. We looked at the bug hotel, which seemed to have lots of guests! We also found worms in the compost heap and a spider on the balcony. Then we looked for bigger animals which feed on insects, like lizards - we saw 4 of them! We listened to baby birds chirping in their nest and then looked at the birdhouse and bird bath. James had made a special box for bats to sleep in. We now know that bats are a gardener's friend because they eat lots of nasty insects like mosquitoes. Mr. Nick was given the honour of climbing the ladder and placing the bat box on our pine tree. After all that excitement the children were very hungry and enjoyed their picnic lunch! And a chance to play in the sunshine. In the afternoon the children made their own insect homes and butterfly feeders for their gardens. Just as the trip was coming to an end, the raindrops started to fall and we went inside to say goodbye. It was a wonderful trip - Thanks for coming everyone!
0 Comments
It was raining on the morning of the long awaited Greenwood Garden School trip..... but as the first children arrived, the sun came out! There were so many children and adults to welcome - the Hazelhut has never felt so full! - but we managed to get everyone seated for a tasty snack before our first activity. What super listeners and learners these children were as they looked at all the things that grow at the Hazelhut. Then some children stayed upstairs with Ottavia to learn the names of some new fruits and vegetables, while others went downstairs to sing and play games with James. The rain stayed away for lunch, so we had a big picnic outside. These children were wonderful - so polite, tidy and organised! After lunch, some children enjoyed a bit of free play, others headed to the woods with James to see more of the farm while another group worked on a frieze with Ottavia. The children were great artists too - concentrating on their work and full of creative ideas! Suddenly the wind picked up and the sky turned dark - was it going to rain? Fortunately not! We managed to pack up and walk the children to the buses without a drop falling! We can't thank the teachers and parents enough for all their wonderful support during this unpredictable trip. We loved having the fantastic Greenwood gang at the Hazelhut and hope to see you all again on a sunny day!
It was great to welcome the prep students from St. Thomas's and start their new unit about buildings and materials at the Hazelhut today. We discovered that these students were great risk takers.... ...and when we looked at different types of wood, they showed us they were good inquirers too. They enjoyed using new tools and learning new skills..... ...... and they could reflect on their learning too. The students cared for each other on our walk in the woods. They also cared for themselves with a healthy lunch, shared with friends! In the afternoon the students were able to express their creativity, making a class construction toy in the art room. But the best thing about this class, was their joy!!!! Enjoy the rest of your unit, Prep!
|
Categories |