In these spring days, we are filled with observations! Young children are enthralled observers of details in the world around them. Wondering, exploring, and discovering are valuable habits for all learners. There are observations of all kinds going on in the Sky and Trees Classes!
Zoe found a seed at the park a few weeks ago, and we have “planted” it in water in a baggie and put it in the sunlight so that the children can watch it. Each day children have hopped up on chairs to look in the window and notice how it is changing. "I see white!" "It is curving!" They have been so excited to see the progress of the growing sprout emerging from the seed.
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| Looking for changes in the seed. |
We planted micro green seeds last week and have been waiting and watching for when they will sprout. We looked carefully each day and recorded how many days it took before they emerged (5 days). The children have noticed many changes. "The stems are longer." "There are more."
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| Drawing the newly emerged sprouts! |
Several children have also brought in objects to share that have been observed and drawn: seed pods, shells, bones and more. There are so many interesting things to see!
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| Observing many items very carefully. |
We have been looking closely at insects that we have found, as well as insects in books. Earlier this week, we saw a bee on flowers as we were coming back from the park, and we stopped to watch it carefully. The children were amazed as we stood and saw it move from flower to flower, gathering pollen.
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| Checking out the ladybugs. |
Much of our observation work is accompanied by drawing, painting, building or creating in some way, what we see. When you do an observational drawing or painting, or build something representational in blocks, you are forced to look more carefully to really see what it is you are looking at.
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| Looking carefully and painting butterflies. |
It can be very tricky to remove your preconceived notion about the way something looks and actually draw what is in front of you, but it changes your thinking in the process. How many leaves are on those sprouts? What shape are they? How many body parts does that insect really have? What is that bug’s face like? You mean it doesn’t have a smiley face like me?
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| Carefully drawing an ant. |
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| Doing multiple drafts of dragonflies. |
A great deal of learning comes from being challenged to look carefully and re-create what you actually see in art or a structure. But this can be tricky work that requires focus and stamina. The work of observing carefully helps children to gain new knowledge and often helps them to reconstruct their ideas.
And the children are doing all of this observing so joyfully! Young children look at the world with wonder and awe and inspire all of us with their fresh perspective on the world.
