15.12.2022

G3 goes on its first Field Trip

By Bruna Cronfli

Throughout the second semester, G3 (3 years old) plunged into the Unit of Inquiry “Nature Everywhere”. As a trigger, the children were introduced to a video, prepared especially for this day, containing several images of elements of nature. A giant piece of paper overlaid the scenes projected on a big screen, while different scratchers were offered for the students to draw on it. Everyone engaged in the activity in a contemplative and curious way. 

To the sound of birds, wind, and water, among others, the studio was also set up in a second moment to receive the children with instigating songs. Materials such as magnifying glasses, plants, flowers, shells, leaves, gravel, vegetables, and stones served as an attractive invitation to explore.

Each class then followed a different path of investigation, and among the grandeur of the skies, volcanoes, oceans, and the richness of detail of plants, roots, and insects, the children were able to learn about change and the role they play in committing themselves to the care of nature.

To crown so many investigations and discoveries, G3 made their first field trip to Burle Marx Park. Before the trip, the children created hypotheses about what they would see in a place that brings nature references and watched a short part of the documentary about Roberto Burle Marx, “Filme Paisagem – Um Olhar Sobre Roberto Burle Marx”, which aroused numerous discussions about care and dedication. 

After the joy of riding the bus – many for the first time – the students explored the environment and witnessed with their teachers what they actually found there. They went on a trail, where they collected numerous treasures of nature, touched and compared textures of logs, located roots, plants, and flowers, and found the most diverse types of insects. Then they visited the park’s vegetable garden and were able to compare it with the one they grow at school. 

The classes also had the mission to find different elements to build a wind chime with the music teacher. After the picnic, the children shared part of the snack with the curious marmosets that came to visit them.

This work further fostered their investigative outlook, collaboration, adventurous spirit, and the opportunity to go beyond the school walls in search of learning. 

The G3 came back full of courage and knowledge, and in the classroom, the groups went back to the list of elements mentioned, and together they made a new list of what they actually found in the park. They also put together a mural with photos and carefully collected elements of nature.