I Spy Afterschool!

I did have a post or two earlier about nature education. Nature is one teaching-learning resource that is increasingly getting hard to come by in cities - or is it? Part of the problem may be that we aren't looking for it!

My afterschool centre is blessed with a small garden. And what a fantastic resource that is! It is not a prim and proper garden - just the right mix of orderliness and wilderness to give children enough to explore. Yesterday we had a treasure hunt. They had to hunt for a mushroom and 5 snail shells. What excitement! - rushing off, begging for clues and more clues, the thrill of discovery - and the learning (it doesn't look like the mushrooms at Reliance Fresh!). Today's hunt is even more special - they have to hunt around (very, very carefully) the leaves of just one bush to spot a wonderfully camouflaged caterpillar.

What if an afterschool centre has no garden? There is so much that can be done from the balcony! Bird watching, bird feeder, cloud watching, sun dials, rain gauges, potted plants,...