exploring and writing about the trails

Nature Journals

Warm weather and a shared interest in collecting pinecones provided an invitation to practice the skill of scientific drawing. With clipboards in hand, we found space to work on the trail. The children carefully examined details in the pinecones and used black pens to draw like a scientist, adding the label pinecone to their work. Following our exploration and recording, the children eagerly collected pinecones to bring back to our classroom for us to sort and count!

Writing Workshop

This week we practiced using what we've learned about writing teaching books by starting a class book about hiking. The children thought about the important information we needed to include in our teaching book and we made sure to have information on every page. 

They practiced picturing the topic in their mind and using drawings and words to show detail. With each planned page, the writers used their own whiteboards to draw the information, stretch words and listen for the sounds they heard, and add details through action marks and labels.

All About Hiking

1. First you need your gear. Boots, a jacket, a backpack, water and snacks! 

2. Then you need your eyes forward and space between friends.

3. Make sure you are quiet when you hike in the woods, because you don't want to scare the birds!