During a two-week period between May 22 and June 2, 2017 the toddlers visited the forest at Denne Woodlot four times. Each time we visited, we noticed new and exciting changes as the season began to shift from Spring to Summer. The immediate changes we noticed were: an increase of green leaves on the trees, more wildlife, new insects and the addition of mud puddles.
“From a very early age, children are curious about nature. By closely exploring their outdoor space, they begin to develop a broader connection to the world beyond their playground” (LaCD, TDSB & Evergreen, 2013, pg. 14).
During visits to the forest, the children find new uses for objects in their play: sticks turn into pointers to find new insects, logs turn into “lava rocks” that the children jump across, rocks become “squirrel food” and are left behind to feed the wildlife.
We often reflect on our time in the forest through mark making; the children produce images that sometimes relate to their experiences from the forest, both in the past and present.
“Children are engaged learners when they express joy and wonder in their encounters with the environment, the natural world, and other people” (HDLH, 2014, pg. 37).
