Posts tagged ‘kids’
Blue, Red and Green Snow: Colorful Outdoor Play
Give kids something unusual to play with and watch what happens.
On Friday, I filled up a bunch of spray bottles with colored water, grabbed some bubble wands and bubble juice and went outside with 6 kids. They immediately got creative. Each kid picked a different color and started squirting the snow different colors. Then each child gave themselves a name and marked off their territory in the snow. They picked tornado, storm and wolverine. I think they got these names from the Fantastic Four or from watching other super hero movies. They gave me the name “Bubble Monster.” I would blow bubbles and they’d squirt them from the sky. Then, they’d retreat to their territory for protection.
This was a lot of fun and the temperature was perfect. The spray bottles didn’t freeze up like they had on other adventures. Kids love this activity and are fascinated by the different colors. They also like watching the water freeze on surfaces and change the texture of the snow. Their creative play was an added bonus. It was fun watching these very different kids play together so well.
Crazy Fun Ice Sledding
What do you get when you take kindergarten and first graders sledding on a very icy hill? Comic relief and crazy fun.
The comic relief came from the kids trying to climb up the icy hill. They’d get so far and then fall down. We all laughed. I actually think the kids liked the challenge because there was a less icy option, but they ignored it. What great exercise.
The crazy fun part was screaming down the hill. This was a fast hill. We had the most fun when we linked all our sleds together and went down as a 7-sled unit. The ride felt like we were on a rollercoaster and the ice made the glide extra long. Now we just need a bit of snow to freshen things up.
If you’d like to try this hill, go to Heistad Park in Madison on Milwaukee Street. It’s the park with the frisbee golf course. Happy winter. Kids love to sled!
Sledding, Nose Bleeds and knowing when it’s time to go
Sledding is a blast in part because it’s just a little bit dangerous.
Today, the hill at Olbrich Park was well worn, pock marked and icy. Half of our 11 kids stayed on the steep part of the hill, while the other half stayed on the gentler side. After one run down the steep side, I too stayed on the gentler side. I felt pretty shook up. So did Rachelle. ”That was freaky”, she said. I had to coax her back on her sled on the gentler side after that first bumpy run. Once she did, she shouted, “Let’s do it again!” That was music to my ears.
Sledding is a creative sport. We made trains with two and three sleds. Kids went down backwards. They doubled up on sleds. They tried going face first, feet first and while standing on their feet like a snow boarder. They were having a great time. It really was a perfect day for sledding with temps in the 20s and a light breeze. Everything was going great until after about 40 minutes.
Suddenly, Margerie shouted, “Jean’s hurt.” Sure enough, Jean, a very hardy first grader, was crying. I ran over and brought her back up to the top of the hill. She had hit a bump hard and bit her lip. Snot and blood was pouring out of her nose and her lip was bloody too. We quickly got her cleaned up and soon she was back on the slopes.
I should have taken this cue and left then. Soon after, Sarah was crying and soon after that, Jean was crying again.
There is a skill to knowing when it’s time to leave. Sometimes I hit it perfect and other times not. It’s always better to leave them wanting for more, then to overstay a visit.
On the bright side, we went back to the Center and had hot cocoa and cookies. That certainly perked Jean up and helped Sarah feel better. Sarah got a pretty good bonk on the forehead.
I always feel bad when kids get hurt on events like this because I think that they wont go sledding again. However, I have to remember how many times I’ve been hurt while sledding and other sports and how that after awhile, you forget the hurts and only remember the fun. Plus, it’s good for kids to learn that a bump or bruise will not kill them. Bumps and bruises happen. It’s part of life. Sledding, like life, isn’t danger free.
Overall, we had a blast sledding. The sledding was fast and great and the kids were great. No one really got hurt… it was just the normal bumps and bruises that sometimes comes with having fun.
Frogs in the Spring House & other Tales from Blue Mound State Park
The view from the picnic area at Blue Mound State Park.
The spring house at Blue Mound State Park is a pre-park relic. All that remains is the 8 x 10 x 4 foot concrete foundation, built by John Minix, the former landowner at the park. The spring once provided water for native people, farmers, and for the swimming pool, located just downstream.
This was a highlight of our adventure to Blue Mound State Park on November 21, 2009. The temperatures were in the 50s, the sun was shining, and the kids were great. We had ten kids in grades Kindergarten to third grade, one parent, and Doug, our Inner City Outings Leader from the Sierra Club. I love those kind of ratios.
When we got near the Spring House, the kids rushed to it and climbed on top. (I’m not sure why, but most kids want to run on the trails. I haven’t figured out how to slow them down. It’s as if they are programmed to run.) Others peered into an opening in the concrete. Of course, they all wanted to look in at the same time which called for a little group management.
I’m happy that these kids now have a pretty good knowledge about springs and ground water. Last month, we pumped water at Parfrey’s Glen and now we’re seeing the water come right out of the ground on its own. A sign nearby, which I wrote when I worked for Wisconsin State Parks, says that the spring is a perched water table. The kids weren’t too interested in that, but they were interested in knowing that the spring once fed the pool that many of them have swam in.
The mood shifted when Dave shouted, ”I see a frog!” ”I do too,” said Joe. Sure enough, there were three or four small frogs swimming around in the spring water at the bottom of the house. I didn’t know the species, but emailed Karl Heil, the park manager, to see if he knew.
After this discovery, all the kids rushed in to see the frogs and again through the opening and we had to do some kid management to ensure that everyone got a change to see them. This was very cool. We always see wildlife on these trips, but we never know what that wildlife will be. Frogs was an expected delight.
This trip also included a climb up the east observation tower and a hike on part of Indian Marker Tree trail. We also got to play under some enormous oak trees in the picnic area. The trees left huge piles of leaves that the kids buried themselves in. This was as much fun for them as it was for me. I love leaf piles, especially huge leave piles.
In close, there is very little I would do differently on the hike. This time, we allowed them to have walking sticks if they just used them for walking. I think this worked pretty well and they listened. Sticks are an ongoing challenge on these hikes. Kids want them so instead of saying no, I said yes to walking sticks.
The hardest part for me is getting back on time. I am notorious for not leaving the park with enough time to get back. This will stop for the next trip to Olbrich Park, hopefully for sledding!
“I can’t stay up!” Figure skates prove a better choice for first-time skaters.
I love to skate and got to share this passion with kids at Hartmeyer Ice Arena last week. Me and two other teachers had 14 kids from ages 5 to 10 years old. Many had never skated before. Here’s the story.
Choosing the right skates
Naturally, all the boys wanted hockey skates, since that’s what Zach, my co-teacher, was wearing. The girls all got figure skates. I didn’t think this would matter, but it did. Turns out that the boys who had never skated could not stay up on hockey skates. John, Paul, George and Ringo (okay, I couldn’t help it), kept falling repeatedly on their hockey skates. It really was a comedy of errors. They’d get up and fall. Get up and fall. Get up and fall. After about 15 minutes of this, I called a
time-out. I couldn’t bear to see these kids struggle so much. I told John to crawl back across the ice to avoid falling anymore. I really give these kids credit for hanging in there. What a great life lesson.
Against the advice of the attendant, who said that hockey skates were easier because of the wider blade, I had them switch to figure skates. It worked. They all were able to stay up and at least get some enjoyment out of skating. “Hey look at me I’m doing it,” was a joyful sound to hear after watching so many falls.
Of course, the kids still did fall, but not nearly as much. An older boy, chose to stay in his hockey skates and continued to fall. That was his choice. I guess the stigma of figure skates was too much for him.
I had to remind the little boys that figure skates are not girl skates, just different kinds of skates. That said, it was nice that the figure skates were brown. It’s funny how kids automatically make assumptions about what is for girls and what is for boys.
I’m not sure why figure skates were easier, but my hunch is that the edges on the blades of figure skates helped the kids cut into the ice better. The toe picked helped them with stopping. Hockey skates have flat blades. And while I’ve never tried hockey skates, my guess is that without the edges, they require different skills to stop, start and turn. Either way, the figure skates worked and the kids went home satisfied.
In my opinion, there would be nothing worse than having kids leave so frustrated after their first time ice skating. I followed up with them later and they all said they had fun and would do it again.
We are planning future adventures to Hartmeyer and possible to outdoor rinks, weather permitting.
The Polar Express: Creative Play at Lake Farm Park
What do you call a fishing pier that’s on land for the winter? The Polar Express, a ship, and a ferry. On a trip to Lake Farm Park, I thought that most of the Kindergarten and first graders would have rushed to the water. But, they didn’t. Instead, they immediately jumped on a massive pier, in three pieces, now setting on land for the winter.
Continue Reading November 13, 2009 at 12:42 am Leave a comment
Halloween Hike: Snapping Turtle & Garter Snake
Kids discover a snapping turtle and garter snake at Cherokee Marsh on warm, windy and wet October day. By Diane Schwartz, October 31, 2009.
Continue Reading November 2, 2009 at 5:30 am Leave a comment
The Wonder of a Water Pump
Water pump, stock photo
I never know what kids will discover while outside. On a recent trip to Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, the kids were fascinated by a hand water pump.
The kids liked pumping the handle and then seeing the water come out. They were mystified by how the water could keep coming out even after they stopped pumping. “Why does the water keep coming?” I explained something about the pressure in the pipe and that there was enough pressure left to bring the water to the surface.
Some kids thought there was a tank underground. When I told them that the water was stored between rocks deep in the earth they asked, “How does the water get there?” ”How is it cleaned?” This led to a short explanation of how the rocks and soil act as a filter for pollution. My co-teacher mentioned that this is why we are careful about what we put on the ground.
I could see their little minds turning. Some of the kids were just five years old so I’m not sure they quite understood the whole concept. Heck, many adults don’t fully understand how ground water works.
I was thrilled that something as fun as a water pump brought up the topic. It’s learning at it’s best…hands-on and fun. It was tough getting them away from the pump. Of course, a call for lunch did the trick.
Where is Your Coat?
We’ve had a cold October in Wisconsin. Last weekend it was about 40 degrees at the start of our hike to Parfrey’s Glen Natural Area. I was dressed in a wind breaker, a neck warmer, hat, gloves and hiking boots. So, when the first kids showed up without none of the above I had to ask, “Where’s your coat?”
“I’ll be okay,” Joan responded. “I don’t get cold,” her brother cheerfully replied. She had on a sweater. He came dressed in shorts and a light jacket.
I told them that they needed to get a coat and that it was colder than they think outside. While I couldn’t do anything about the shorts, his mom did have coats (with hoods) in the car. Other kids had a hat and mittens but no coat. Still others had a coat but no hat and mittens. Fortunately, we keep a stock of mittens and hats at the Center. After handing out some items, I stuffed a few extra pairs in my backpack, just in case the kids change their mind.
Dressing for the weather is a big part of learning to be in the outdoors. Truth is, most kids go from the car or bus to school and home and rarely spend any time outside at all. Recess is just 15 minutes and they don’t venture out on really cold days. Some kids simply don’t think it’s cool to wear hats and coats. Schools also have to be careful about cold because many kids do not have the proper attire. Schools now routinely close when temperatures are below a certain mark. They simply can’t risk having some child outside in bitter temperatures who isn’t dressed properly.
When we got to Parfrey’s Glen the winds were brisk and two kids asked for hats. A mom volunteer asked for mittens. I’m glad I had some extras, but then again, perhaps they would have learned more if they’re ears were a little cold. After all, it wasn’t below zero, it was a brisk 48 degrees.
If the other underdressed kids were cold they didn’t complain, though one boy took his arms out of this coat sleeves to preserve heat. I could tell he was cold, though. I have yet to fully understand this undressing thing. Why would someone intentionally want to be cold? I’m pretty sure the parents told them to put on more a warmer coat, but maybe not.
As we walked and got into the woods, the kids did warm up. The kids who had on more clothes, peeled off a few layers. They learned that it’s better to have it and have to take it off, then not have it and freeze.
I’m not sure how to instill the dress code for these outdoor adventures. When it’s really cold, we require that kids wear snow pants or we provide snow pants to those who don’t have them. For fall weather however, it’s a little trickier. The day started out sunny and it looked warm. I think that fooled parents and the kids into thinking that it was warmer outside.
Before the trip, I reminded parents to “dress for the weather.” Perhaps, I need to provide a list of specific things to wear before the trip. This may not guarantee compliance, but at least I’m doing more to ensure that no one gets cold. I will no longer assume that parents know what “dress for the weather” means. Just like math and English, dressing for outdoor fun needs to be taught if we want kids and parents to enjoy spending time outside.
Bugs & Slugs: Insect Adventure
What do you get when you cross 11 school age boys with insect exploration? Lots of high energy insect fun. Bugs and Slugs marked my second of two week-long adventure camps run from the Goodman Community Center this summer. Bike camp was in June and Bugs & Slugs was in August. As this was my first time teaching this camp, I learned a lot about kids and about teaching in the outdoors.
Kids love insects. Insects are fascinating, endlessly diverse, cool looking and perhaps most important, they are everywhere. It takes so little to study insects, but the learning can be huge. I used the 4-H insect curriculum for most of my lessons this week. I also talked with entomologists at UW-Madison and looked online for information. The week was divided up between outdoor insect exploration, outdoor play like swimming and games, and indoor insect exploration (microscopes, pinning, videos). I really think it’s important to have a diversity of activities during the week, and not just insect related. This keeps the week moving and ensures that there is plenty of time for summer fun, in addition to learning about insects.
We started the week with a visit to the UW-entomology Department’s insect library. There, the boys got to see a collection of insects from around the world. Giant beetles and walking sticks were among the coolest insects. They also got to see a live tarantula (not an insect) and a cockroach colony. One boy wasn’t sure about the tarantula and stayed in the hallway a bit before getting closer. Afterward, we stopped at Babcock Hall to get ice cream.
The next day, we went collecting and made pitfall traps. The kids filled their jars with grasshoppers and other insects. We talked about insect body parts and what makes an insect an insect. Most of the insects we let go, but the kids did keep the insects for observation for a few days, especially the ones that they couldn’t identify. I checked out Golden Guide insect guides from the library so we could identify some insects. However, the internet proved to be a better identification source since there are so many insects.
Later in the week, the kids did do some pinning of the insects they found. We started with Japanese Beetles because they were so abundant and we talked about the damage they do to plants. We popped them into the killing jar and waited for them to die. Then, the kids pinned and labeled their specimens. Not all the kids pinned insects. I left it has an optional activity, since some kids did not feel comfortable with this. Insect, they wrote in their journals or worked on an art project. We also watched a movie called Ant Bully, which was a good insect movie. Most of the insects that the kids pinned had died on their own, so they didn’t have to use the killing jar. The kids that pinned insects did enjoy it and did a great job. They appreciated the scientific aspect of making a collection and worked hard at it.
We tried looking for aquatic insects, but that was the most disappointing aspect of the week. We went to Lake Wingra, but didn’t really find anything. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the water though and they did find tiny crustaceans. We used small vials to collect things and the kids enjoyed putting rocks, shells and water plants in the vials. One kids called them his potions. To better explore water insects, I need to find a wetland that has more insects that we can see. Lake Wingra wasn’t it. I’d also like to rent some paddle boats and take the kids out on Lake Wingra so that we could closer where the insects would be. There simply were few insects along the shore.
The pitfall traps proved to be a huge hit and very, very simple to make. The kids dug a whole and put a cup in the ground. Then, they put food in the cup. We left the traps alone and then went back to see what insects fell into the traps, hence the name pitfall trap. The results were fascinating. For the kids, it was kind of like Christmas everyday because you never knew what would be in the cup. We found spiders, ants, bees, beetles. The kids even created rain covers for their traps to keep the rain out, but the insects could still get to the food. I loved watching that.
The highlight of the week was a trip to the Spring Green Nature Preserve. The preserve is a dry prairie and is home to rare insects and usual plants like the prickly pear cactus. The place is magical and the kids really enjoyed it. Half the group immediately wanted to climb to the overlook. Forget about stopping to look at insects. The other half wanted to look for insects. We had plenty of adults to make this happen. Of course, we could only look and release any insects here. We found a gorgeous dragon fly, a huge orange ant, lots of little yellow ants and a variety of katydids and grasshoppers. We were fortunate to have an entomology student with us who helped with identification of insects. At the top of the bluff, the view was amazing. All together we hike about 3 miles, which is pretty good. These kids did it fast too. Not all groups are like that. Afterward, we went to Culvers and had ice cream. They loved that.
We also went to see a honey farm, where they learned how honey is made. They liked putting on the bee keeper hat and gloves and looking at the equipment. Of course, they got to taste some honey too.
Overall, the week was a lot of fun. I would change the following: 1) Find a better place to look for aquatic insects or delete that part of the week. 2) Do more collecting and pinning of insects. 3) Purchase our own nets and microscopes. it’s difficult to borrow equipment and very time consuming. 4) Have more computers available in the room for insect identification and microscope work.
