Caring for Our Woods Spot (Preschool)
In the fall of 2023 preschool teachers noticed that some areas of our woods spot had been worn down to bare dirt from years of playing. We proposed to the children that we place a boundary line around some of the areas in the woods and take a break from walking or playing in those areas. The children agreed and went to work deciding together about which areas we would protect. We named this project the Woods Recovery Zones, and have revisited the idea over the last year. During our first few days in the woods this fall, while learning about boundaries, we explored the three areas again. We asked them to try and remember the work we had done together last year.
“What do you remember about the Woods Recovery Zones?” - Kiah
“They are boundaries.” - Helen
“There could be poison ivy inside.” -Rohman
“I have two. Don’t lift up the coffee sacks, and don’t go under the yellow string.” -Nora
“Like, it got too dry in there and then the plants died down and they need to regrow.” -Kestrel
“Does anyone remember where the different Zones are? For example, does anyone remember where the Moss Zone is?” - Kiah
-Helen points to the zone.
“What were we predicting would happen if we protected that area?” - Kiah
“The moss would grow.”
“Who can point where the Baby Bee Zone was?” -Nora
-Nora points to the zone.
“Does anyone remember why we named it the Baby Bee Zone?” -Kiah
“Wait I know, because it is a zone with bees inside it.” - Nora
“Who can point to where the Fern Zone is?” -Kiah
-Kestrel and Nora point to the Fern Zone.
“Why did we name that zone the fern zone?”
“There is ferns inside it!” -Nora
“We saw one little fern trying to grow.” -Kiah
“Will there be more now?” -Helen
The next day we printed out some photos of the zones from last fall and brought them to the woods to compare what we saw then to what we are seeing now.
“This recovery Zone is called the Bee and Baby Tree Zone, Kestrel was noticing that this is that same space as last year.”
“And there were hardly any green stuff in here last year!” -Kestrel
“I don’t really know what I see. Maybe more green.” -Rohman
We brought a large piece of cardboard and some crayons to the woods to sketch the growth in the Bee and Baby Tree Zone
“The yellow means that these are babies and we need to keep the germs off them.” -Vaughn
“I'm getting some green on it.” -Ruby
“I am adding the ocean.” -Ellie
“I don’t see any ocean in there.” -Rohman
“Maybe Ellie is thinking about the ocean.” -Kiah
After about 20 minutes of drawing vertically on the cardboard, Ruby and Rohman asked if we could lay it on the ground. Ruby began collecting items from the woods and placing them on the drawing.
“Maybe we could collect things from outside the zones that we see inside the zones and make a picture with them.” -Ruby
“Maybe we could trace these things, can you help me trace these things that Ruby is bringing?” -Rohman
We are looking forward to observing our Woods Recovery Zones over the course of our school year. Growth and change happen slowly, and this is a great opportunity to sharpen our observation skills as well as build on our understanding of land stewardship. In the meantime, we have refreshed our boundaries around the areas and Helen helped to design these incredible signs.