Two Books are Better than One
One of the joys of revamping my curricular responsibilities by infusing nature revolves around picture books. An aspiring picture book author myself, the simultaneously simplistic and scintillating structure of this type of writing fascinates me. Finding “new to me” stories about the natural world is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s also addicting. One good story leads to another. . .and another. . .and then another. I’ve often walked out of the public library carrying my weight in fine literature.
Finding that book that not only bridges our understanding of the natural world to our emergent experiences in nature. Finding two of them. . .even better. Last night, during an unprecedented November tornado watch, straight line winds wreaked havoc throughout the community. Students came to school ready to share stories of the howling winds and torrential downpours they encountered the night before. They also showed some concern about the status of their current outdoor project, the mouse houses.
They have designed, built, and rebuilt small habitats made of natural materials aimed at attracting wildlife. We’ve placed seeds, nuts, discarded pumpkins, and cheese (it is Wisconsin). Using a small trail camera, we’ve monitored what forest friends have made a visit.
With the storm ravaging the area, the class worried that their mouse houses were damaged, or even destroyed. Before surveying the damage (which ended up being minimal), I used my “opportunity over obstacle” mentality to talk about how a destroyed design allows for a chance to create something new. A negative situation can turn positive.
Using this logic, I was reminded of a few great picture books (pictured above). In both stories, a storm damaged a precious tree. But, without giving away the endings, positive results came to light.
Seeing the students initially make text to text connections and then deepen that connection by inserting personal feelings about the previous night’s and their mouse house reinforced the work I have done to revamp my curriculum.
Personalizing our lessons in a place-based way. The way it should be.
