This morning started as usual. Buckley, my loving terrier companion, was most perturbed by my persistence that he wake up and go for a walk. Then it was coffee (this morning I went with 2 cups), some calendar items, and I was out the door to Willowwind. In my mind I was reviewing all things meetings, spelling routine, up and coming literature circles, and Jared's Celebration Circle in honor of his 7th Birthday today. Then my friends came through the door with a contagious energy. They were fully equipped with hiking boots, full water bottles, long sleeved t-shirts and sun hats. I heard tales of scrumptious lunches complete with berries, peanut butter sandwiches, orange peppers, Greek yogurt, plum cots. In the air...the fresh scent of sunscreen. The Racerunners could hardly wait for 8:35 when we were to meet our Partners in the GD space to board... the bus (a rare treat in Willowwind culture). It was clear that this day would be anything but usual - in fact - it was going to be extraordinary.
As we made our way through Iowa City, Willowwind Friends could be heard for miles singing their favorites "Don't Stop Belieiving" and "Obladee." Once we arrived at Kent Park, on what seemed to be a day made just for us with a slight breeze, warm sunshine and perfect 70 degrees, friends formed a circle to start on their snack and listen with eager ears as Brad spoke with them about the plan for the day.
First we went on a tour of the Prairie. We discovered plants, animals and Prairie Facts. Did you know that early Prairie Settlers used moss, Prairie Grasses and mud to build their homes because trees were not in high supply? We discovered a Gold Finch eating on thistle, walked alongside crickets, centipedes and a very courageous Daddy Long Legged Spider. We searched, high and low, for Prairie Dogs. Soon we discovered that Prairie Dogs prefer Short Grass Prairies found in the Dakotas over our Tall Grass Prairies in Iowa.
Following our Prairie Tour, each partnership set off to do some Silent Hunting. We followed a deer path toward the pond (although some friends claim it MAY be an ancient dinosaur path to a drinking hole). There we climbed rocks, got muddy and followed a large hawk hunting in the sky and tiny water birds hunting in the sand. When we are silent, our eyes are much more keen to all that is happening around us. We could have watched all morning long.
Other friends braved the tall Prairie Grasses trekking through thorn bushes and thistle to discover all that was crawling and growing in the midst of a Prairie. Our senses were overwhelmed with sounds, fresh scents and pure sites.
After a leisurely lunch with our partners sitting among the Prairie Grasses, friends romped around the grasses as though they were right alongside Laura Ingalls Wilder and her dog Jack. We didn't need jump ropes, paper airplanes, soccer balls or play equipment - we had the Prairie.
The rest of the afternoon we conducted research determining the biodiversity of Prairies to Cut Lawns. Then we spent some time with Brad learning about Fox Snakes, the four venomous snakes that live in Iowa, Bull Snakes, Prairie Mice and Coyotes. The highlights of the Prairie Animal Presentation: petting and holding the Fox Snake (even Ms. Brooke touched him, but allowed Christine to do the holding), watching a Bull Snake hiss, and discussing the recent siting of a Puma (A.K.A. Mountain Lion) in Ms. Brooke and Debbie's neighborhood just last week! FYI, Mountain Lions are NOT to be confused with the more common neighbor - The Bobcat. As we prepared to return to Willowwind, friends spent time exploring the pelts of fox, beavers, coyotes and even bear. They enjoyed looking underground at a root system and found that hickory and walnut make excellent sources of paint and food.
As Ms. Michelle and I loaded our tired but content friends onto the bus we heard signs of success: "Can we stay longer?" "Can I come back tonight with my Mom?" and "Can we come back tomorrow?" Well, Prairie Racerunner Friends, we will absolutely return to Kent Park for further Prairie Investigation, seed collection and Prairie Planning for our own restoration at Willowwind. Meanwhile, we will spend time in Writer's Workshop and Literacy this week creating a Prairie Mural, pondering our questions, practicing our Prairie Play and engaging the authentic treasure of this day as we read, write and reflect on all that we experienced.
This was a special moment - a rare gift in today's definition of education. This is the hands on and organic environment that we only read about as Educational Theory. This was experiencing, discovering and questioning in motion - just what school should be.
Thanks for helping to make today such a success families. You are awesome and I am so fortunate to learn alongside your children.
