The Beach: Engineer and Artist Training Ground
Next time you’re at the beach, notice the kids digging in the sand. Very likely, these kids are the next generation of engineers, geologists, road builders, artists and chefs.
Creative play flourishes at the beach.
Just watch.
The engineers, road builders and mechanics build elaborate river systems, dikes, canals and cities.
The geologists experiment with different kinds of sand.
The cooks and artists make mud pies, ice cream cakes and castles.
They all get sand in the hair, in the shorts, and up their noses.
And, they don’t care.
The Goodman Pool in Madison has a great sand area. They have three places to fill buckets with water and plenty of sand toys to move the sand around. There are always lots of kids playing together amicably. Most don’t know each other, but it’s not uncommon for schoolmates to see each other. It’s a happy, creative and diverse scene.
As I watched these kids play, I thought about all the learning taking place:
1) Share your toys.
2) Don’t mess with other people’s structures without asking.
3) Sand structures don’t last, but they’re fun while they last.
4) Water flows downhill.
5) Sand will eventually absorb the water.
6)Sand is fun, fun, fun. You can make anything with sand.
7) And, they’re role-playing. Pretending to excavate the land and make magic cake is a great way to practice new skills and explore ideas.
They don’t know they’re learning, but they are. Kids who play in the sand know that sand will not make a good foundation for a house. They know that a beach will not stay put in a rain storm. They may not use the words erosion or unstable, but they know what these words mean. They also know how to share and get along with others. They share their mud pie with others and work out their differences. These kids are learning skills that they’ll have forever–skills they can’t get while sitting inside.
What are your kids learning when they play in the sand? Do let me know.
You can find Diane Schwartz observing and guiding future generations of engineers and artists at the Goodman Pool on Monday afternoons during the summer. Like what you see here? Register for this blog and get a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Just click on the home page and type in your email.
Add comment July 20, 2010
Devil’s Lake: Danger, Turkey Vultures & 2 Billion Year Old Rocks
Devil’s Lake is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. So, it was with a healthy dose of caution that I took 9 kids on a 2.5 mile hike.
We went up the East Bluff Trail, down the Balanced Rock Trail, and then back to the North Shore along the railroad tracks. It’s a classic hike that I’ve taken dozens of times, but never with 9 elementary aged kids.
It was entirely different with kids.
Like I said, Devil’s Lake is gorgeous, but it’s also dangerous. Safety always come first with kids.
The hardest part of the hike was telling the Kindergarten and some first grade students that they couldn’t go. I stuck with older kids I knew who would listen and who would be able to keep up with the hike. This left a few disappointed, but I know they will have their day on the bluffs.
After a short talk about “staying on the trail” and “listening to the teacher” we were ready for fun.
We got to see turkey vultures gracefully flying near the bluffs and I got to tell my favorite turkey vulture stories.
“Did you know that turkey vultures pee on their legs to cool down? The uric acid also disinfects their legs. Why would you think that’s important?” I asked the kids.
“Because they eat dead things?” said Mary quizzically.
“Would they eat us?” someone asked.
“If we were dead, probably.”
“Gross!” they cried with looks of disgust.
“They also vomit if threatened by another animal. The other animal then eats the vomit and the turkey vulture can get away. Pretty smart bird, huh?”
“Ew!”
The 4th grade kids appreciated this fact more than the second grade kids.
As we hiked, we looked at fossilized ripple marks in the Baraboo quartzite left from the sandy beach that formed the rock more than 2 billion years ago. I don’t know if this fact sunk in, but at least it planted a geology seed. Devil’s Lake is a geological goldmine and it’d be great to spend more time on the geology. Today, however, we had to keep going so that we’d make it back to the bus on time.
Other than being slightly rushed, it was an awesome hike. The weather was perfect and the kids were troopers. And, no one tripped or slipped on the rocks.
I have to say that I was a relieved to step foot on the ground after descending the Balanced Rock trail.
Like I said before, hiking with kids is different because you never stop be concerned about their safety. Of course, I would do it again, I just would allow more time to enjoy the view.
Tell me about your hiking adventures with kids. What did you do that worked? What didn’t work? You can find me planning my next hiking trip at the Goodman Community Center. Like what you see here? Register for this blog and get a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Just click on the home page and type in your email.
Add comment July 10, 2010
Insect Safari with Kindergarten and 1st graders: Notes and Tips
Pitfall Trap
Friday we had insect club with 15 Kindergarten and first graders.
The plan was to have the kids dig pitfall traps and then hunt for insects. We did both of these things, but the outcomes were different than expected.
I’ll make some observations and then suggest changes for the next outing.
Observation One: Kids love to dig.
In fact, they were more interested in digging and playing, than in finding insects, though they did find insects.
While digging a hole for a trap (really just a cup in the ground), one student dug into a nest of ants. Squeals of excitement prevailed as hundreds of ants swarmed on the ground.
“Gross,” said Joanie.
“Cool” said John.
” I don’t like bugs,” said George.
Now that we had some insects to watch, the plan was to see what insects liked to eat. We had apples, peanut butter, jelly, bread, and some lettuce. I tossed a little on the ground and I explained the project. They were not impressed.
Observation 2: The kids were more interested in tossing food on the ground and playing with containers than watching what the insects ate.
One boy placed a variety of containers on the ground upside down directly on the ant hill. I asked him what the cups were for and he said they were to catch the ants. The ants did crawl up side the cups, but afterward, John wasn’t at all interested in picking up the cups after the insects were inside. This was interesting. He just liked looking at them and playing with the containers.
General observation wasn’t the objective of this lesson, but that’s what happened. As a teacher, sometimes lessons don’t go as planned. Flexibility is key.
A few kids did get their pitfall traps into the ground. We’ll go back to the traps this week and see if any insects fell into them. To find out how to make one go to http://insects.about.com/od/entomologytools/ht/byopitfalltrap.htm. These traps are simple and fun to make. I’ll report next week how the older kids liked making them.
The safari went okay, though three kids opted out. They were hot and didn’t really like the insects. The kids that went each had a container for their insects. They really liked having their own container. I expected to find a lot of Japanese beetles, but we only found one. The kids thought this was cool, but it’s hard to show off just one beetle to 12 kids. And of course, they all wanted to take it home.
Here are my suggestions for the next time:
1) Pick a New Location: We did our digging along a rain garden near a bike path. We had about 5 kids that did not look before crossing the bike path. This meant that me and my co-teacher had to constantly watch them. Next time, I will hold the activity at a nearby park or take smaller numbers of kids to this location.
2) Define Expectations: Tell the kids ahead of time that all insects will be released or placed in our science area. They will still ask, but at least it’s up front. Many wanted to take their creepy crawlies home, but this wasn’t possible. If we do some pinning, then they can take them home.
3) Keep it very simple: Turns out that Friday is the toughest day for our kids. After a long week, they are least likely to listen and I am least likely to have patience. Next time, I would just dig with them and not make the traps. Most couldn’t dig a hole deep enough to place their traps anyway. The pitfall trap activity will work better with older kids. Then, just go on a safari.
Tell me about your adventures with kids and insects. What worked? What didn’t? What did you do? You can find me playing with insects at the Goodman Community Center. Like what you see here? Register for this blog and get a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Just click on the home page and type in your email.
Add comment July 1, 2010
First Insect — First Day of Summer Camp
Today, Louis found the first insect of the summer. I’m not sure what it is, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is his interest.
He carried it carefully on a stick all the way back to the classroom from the park. We put it in a plastic container with some holes punched in the top and placed it on the counter.
I’m happy that Louis got so excited about his find. Some of the kids
were squeamish, but not him. He was careful, proud and
curious. Perhaps this will rub off on the others.
The next step is to bring in a fish tank with a screen net. We’ll put some
dirt and some leaves in the bottom and soon we’ll have all sorts of creepy
crawlies running around.
I can’t wait.
There’s lots of summer to go.
You can find Diane Schwartz playing with insects at the Goodman Community Center where she is a K-5 teacher. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. In her spare time, she sells bubble wands and does outdoor consulting.
For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment June 15, 2010
Bubble Party: Tips for Bubbling with a lot of Kids
Need Wands? Order your bubble kit today!
We do lots of bubbling during warm weather.
Here are some tips for hours of happy, bubbling fun with lots of kids. These guidelines use the Big Bubble Wands and recipe available on this blog.
1) Make Bubble Juice: Make at least 2 gallons of bubble juice. It’s cheap and you don’t want to run out. The recipe comes with the wands or you can find it under “Bubbles” on this blog.
2) Create a Bubble Zone: The wands stay in the bubble area.
3) Tray Placement: Place bubble trays in the Zone, a good distance apart. I usually place 5 trays and have 10 wands. Older kids can place and fill the trays with juice.
4) Safe Wand Use: Bubble wands are for making bubbles only. This ensures that no one gets hit with a bubble wand accidentally. Bubble poppers use their hands. If necessary, remind kids that wands are not swords or weapons.
5) Have Other Activities: Have other activities to do besides bubbles such as play structures, hula hoops, ball games, water games, etc. Allow kids can enter and exit the Bubble Zone at will, leaving the wands for other kids to play with. This way you only need 10 wands for about 20 kids. Plus, remember that some kids love to pop only. This is fun to watch.
6) Clean-Up. The juice is sticky, so kids may need to wash their hands afterward. The wands, trays and mixing bowls clean up easy with water.
Most of all, have fun. Kids love bubbles. I have had very few behavior issues with bubbles. I think this is because bubbling is non-competitive and beautiful. It also helps to have lots of wands and trays and other things to do at your party.
You can find Diane Schwartz bubbling at the Goodman Community Center where she is a K-5 teacher. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. In her spare time, she sells bubble wands and does outdoor consulting.
For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment June 5, 2010
Lippy Kids: How to react in a positive way
Lippy kids bug me.
When a kid is defiant,
my face tenses up.
My voice tightens.
My whole body stiffens.
I want to push back.
That’s exactly what the kid wants.
That’s exactly what doesn’t work to alter the situation.
Truth is, some kids are sassy.
It’s my job to respond in a calm manner to avoid escalating the situation.
It’s my job to remind them to use respectful words.
It’s also my job to build relationships with kids so that they respect me as a teacher and don’t resort to back talk.
To do this takes practice. It also takes some reflection.
What is it about lippy kids that bug me so much?
Truth is, I grew up with lippy brothers who picked on me relentlessly.
When kids are sassy, especially boys, sore feelings from long ago resurface.
Now that I know this, I am calmer and more relaxed around these kids.
This has already made a huge difference in my teaching.
Kids intuitively know what bugs teachers and once
I stopped bracing for trouble, their behavior altered. In fact, one
student even read a book with me, something I never thought would
happen.
Thank goodness I can change.
Thank goodness kids are so understanding.
Diane Schwartz is a K-5 teacher at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, WI. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. In her spare time, she sells bubble wands and does outdoor consulting. She doesn’t take any lip. For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment May 29, 2010
Gearing up for Summer Fun!
School’s almost out for summer.
That means Summer Camp is just around the corner. At Goodman Community Center, we offer a 10 week program of summer fun. Biking, field trips, insect adventures, arts and crafts, swimming, fishing and hiking are just a few of the activities available to kids.
The best part of summer is that I get more time to do activities with kids. We can take bike rides to the Capitol. We can plant bug traps and explore insects at our leisure. We can go swimming and be lazy and just stare at clouds. We can make gimp key chains and sand art and other classic summer crafts.
As I kid, I loved doing these things and I still fondly remember hanging out at the local park playing wink and making gimp necklaces with the recreation staff.
As a teacher, I get to give kids these memories.
I can’t think of anything that’s better than that and I look forward to sharing my triumphs and challenges here with you.
Are you excited or scared about summer? What do you do with your kids? What works? what doesn’t? Remember it’s a short season, so have fun!
Diane Schwartz is a K-5 teacher at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, WI. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. She also sells bubble wands. For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment May 27, 2010
One minute of silence: Listening to the birds at the Arboretum
Q: How do you teach kids the art of listening?
A: One minute at a time.
While hiking today at the Arboretum with 10 kids, I tried something new.
I held up my watch and said, “For one minute, let’s see how many birds we can hear.”
Red-bellied Woodpecker
It wasn’t perfect silence, but that’s okay. The birds were raucous and many different sounds could be heard. Afterward, John said he heard a goose. Janet, an avid birder and one of our Sierra Club volunteers, said she heard the shrill call of a red-bellied woodpecker. The kids listened again.
They heard it. Their eyes grew larger, full of wonder.
Where is the bird hiding? What does he look like?
Somehow, the rest of the hike seemed quieter. I don’t know if this is true, but that’s how it felt to me. We stopped by the spring and enjoyed some watercress. Some kids liked it and others thought it was too hot. It tasted a little peppery.
After the hike, we stopped at the Longenecker Gardens to enjoy a snack and to run around among the lilacs.
We saw swallows, a cat bird, a Baltimore oriole, chipping sparrows, robins, turkeys and yellow finches.
What a glorious day Spring day.
I think it’s important to teach kids the art of listening.
Who knows, that one minute of silence could lead to many more.
To listen to the red-bellied woodpecker, go to www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/sounds.
Diane Schwartz is a K-5 teacher at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, WI. She leads hiking, skiing and biking adventures. For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment May 15, 2010
Conservation Giant: Bud Jordahl dies at 83
Bud Jordahl
Bud Jordahl died May 11, 2010.
He was my teacher in grad school.
He’s one of those teachers that you remember for a lifetime. He was kind, patient and giving. You knew he cared. He inspired me to make a difference, which is what great teachers do.
My graduate research focused on the Lower Wisconsin River. He was passionate about the Lower Wisconsin River and was influential in getting me to fully understand the ramifications of preserving the scenic beauty of this amazing landscape. He introduced me to people at the National Parks Service and helped me organize a conference about the river. He treated me with respect and dignity.
Later, I visited his farm in Richland County and helped make maple syrup. When I went back to school to become a teacher, he wrote me a letter of encouragement. That meant a lot to me.
I saw him for the last time at the Earth Day at 40 Conference in Madison in April. He was the main reason I went and I’m glad I did.
Always the teacher, he was supportive of my work with kids. If I could be just a little like him, I would be grateful.
In his lifetime, he championed so many environmental causes that it’s impossible to write them all down. Others have done that for me. You can read his obituary here http://uppitywis.org/service-monday-bud-jordahl-conservationenvironmental-giant.
He will be greatly missed.
Add comment May 13, 2010
Reading, Bubbles & Sidewalk Chalk
Today feels like summer.
The sun shines warm. The wind blows hot. And the sky is deep blue.
So, it makes sense to do summer things with the kids like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and reading.
Yes, reading.
The first Tuesday of the month, we have a read aloud with Tracy Moore, the children’s services librarian from the Hawthorne Library. She usually reads two stories and then does an art project with the kids. Today she read, “One Stuck Duck” by Phyllis Root and did a felt board story about a pig going on a picnic.
Afterward, we went crazy with the sidewalk chalk. We made cats, butterflies and princesses, traced our bodies, played hop scotch, and made lots of scary faces and designs. The bubbles blew quickly through the air in the warm wind. It was magical and perfect day.
I love making connections between the outdoors, reading and art. Hopefully, this pattern will stick with the kids and leave them wanting more of all three. This summer, we’ll continue our library reading program to help keep them active with books and learning. We want our kids to enter the school year ready to learn.
I hope that you get creative with kids now that the weather has turned gorgeous. Try adding a book into the mix to add some literacy.
Diane Schwartz is a K1 teacher at the Goodman Community Center in Madison, WI. She specializes in getting kids outside. For a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide, just go to the home page and subscribe to this blog.
Add comment May 5, 2010
