Last Friday, I chaperoned my son's third-grade class field trip (literally) to a nearby restored prairie. The kids had been studying the prairie and its plants, and this field trip allowed them to see the plants growing in their natural habitat. It was wonderful to see how many plants they were able to identify. Hope for the future.
edited 11/10/07 I just learned that this prairie was featured on national television on "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," and that the Science Channel has filmed there also.
9 comments:
I bet this was a fun day. I love to take little people out into the wilds. They always see things I miss from their advantage. Often they have questions I have to think about to answer.
How cool that there is restored prairie for them to visit. I don't contribute to that many charities, but one I do support with as much money as I can is the Missouri Prairie Foundation, which is busy protecting and restoring prairie all over the state.
Children are so open to learning, and much more observant than we give them credit for. Sounds like you had a wonderful day.
I didn't the same sort of thing with my pre-school age kid. The class went to a local DuPage forest/park and the nature guide had them all pretend to be field mice and she tried to catch them (the fox). They had to walk around with their 'ears' up, and be very cautious and then they had to learn how to build a mouse den in the high grass. Mainly fun for the kids I'm sure, but at least they got out of the classroom.
Out here in Nebraska prairie restoration is all the rage, led by the good folks at the University of Nebraska and the statewide arboretum. It's good to see these projects happening nationally (and in some people's backyards, too!).
Lisa - I try to learn from the kids as much as I hope they try to learn something from me.
Healing Magic Hands & Benjamin Vogt - It's good to know that other States are involved in prairie restoration. If only there were a way to connect all the prairie area together.
Welcome Tyler Allison! I like the sound of that program. I'm all in favor of anything that gets kids outside experiencing the natural world. It's sad that most kids now don't have the opportunity for free play in wild or semi-wild areas that people my age had.
As a N.Dak. native, I still have a fondness in my heart for the prairie.
I have many happy memories of days spent roaming in the wide open spaces.
Connie - with you on your fondness for the prairie - there's nothing like it.
Hi there, Mr McGregor's Daughter :-)
It really is a great way for children to learn by taking them outside to see, smell, touch and be part of nature :-D
Our children really need to understand about conservation and what better way to do it - I'm sure you all enjoyed your trip :-D
Hi again, Shirl! My hope is that if we hook them young, we can create a whole generation of people who care about the environment.
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