We have been super grateful this week to be able to spend a morning in the Centennial Reserve. We were able to observe like scientists, spotting everything from fungi to tunnel web spiders. We found things in places we least expected.
We had a special book to write and draw our field notes and specific things to find in the Centennial Reserve. These things related to our Inquiry learning about habitats and the NZ forest and bush layers. This was a fantastic place to observe the forest floor, sub canopy and canopy layers as you walked further up the track towards the Mount Crawford Prison and its gardens.
Nature certainly promotes Positive Emotions such as joy, calm, awe, gratitude, and inspiration. Simply being out in amongst nature can lift your mood, reduce stress, and increase positive feelings and connections in a variety of ways.
We often see our students engaged and in the ‘Flow’ during these chances to learn in a different way and in a different space. It also gives us a chance as teachers to see what our students actually know and what knowledge and experiences they bring from whānau adventures out and about.
We had a chance to be mindful and present so we could be completely absorbed in the moment. Life moves very fast most of the time and we moved fast through the Centennial Reserve too but with a different level of excitement and engagement.
We had to dial up our GRIT and Perseverance when it came to carrying our own bags and clipboards. Climbing a hill was hard and braving the Wellington winds added some complexity to our longer walk there. We all managed, worked through some tolerable stress, feeling a positive sense of accomplishment afterwards. We focused on all the things we could be grateful for on our return to school. Here is what we were looking for on our adventure:
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