On the educational value of play…

Posted by lapazfarm on August 19th, 2008 filed in nature study, Curriculum or Lack Thereof...

Our current read-aloud is this wonderful book:

In a Patch of Fireweed by Bernd Heinrich

The children and I are utterly absorbed by Heinrich’s descriptions of his adventures as a budding naturalist. This passage we read today rang especially true for us as nature-centered us-schoolers:

(After a short description of the value of play in young foxes)

…Foxes who play the most learn the most-and they survive. Almost anything a fox learns will come in handy later in his life.

We, too are predators, though we live much longer than any fox and our environments are much more diverse. Small wonder play is such an important aspect of our lives, especially when the environment is unfamiliar. Growing up in Maine, I played a lot, but I never connected it to “education.” Education in our modern conception, is usually associated with a training toward some practical end. My education was largely outside that mold. My favorite form of play in the summer was looking for bird nests or caterpillars. In the winter I loved to strike out into the woods on snowshoes, with a small backpack holding some food. I explored the swamps and ridges, looking for fresh animal tracks. I followed the tracks of a weasel from morning to late afternoon, hoping only to get a glimpse of the pure white ermine with black-tipped tail, or to see the fur, blood, and feathers where it made a kill. To see these things was a great reward. When on the trail I often built a fire in the snow, to roast some meat on a stick, and to dream about the stories I had read by Ernest Thompson Seton and Jack London.

And with that, I give you scenes from our very educational day today:

A beautiful lichen

A burl in a spruce tree

Moose nuggets

What made this tree grow this way?

Anybody home???

A gorgeous spider

Monk’s hood (don’t they look like little purple-hooded monks at prayer?)

Cassie smells a moose. Can you see the moose tracks in front of her?

Buddy finds a swimming hole

Some interesting algae in the seep

Fresh bear scat. Time to go home!

17 Responses to “On the educational value of play…”

tribeofautodidacts Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 2:12 am
I am going to read this book soon too. I love the photos! And who else could blog about bear poop and make it fascinating?
mary Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 5:19 am
somone told me he is a great author for pple who loved the burgess books. i have brian’s winter but we haven’t read it yet. thanks for the book suggestion. i would love to hear about the rhythm of your days.
Mary G. Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 6:09 am
This sounds like a GREAT read-aloud … thanks for mentioning. Must be wonderful to be in the midst of such beauty … lucky you!

Prayers for a wonderful year for you all up North.

Mary G.
Marjorie Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Thank you for the book suggestion. It looks EXACTLY like something Caddie would adore. I’m off the the library website to put in a request!
jove Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I read that book not so long ago and found it fascinating. I can just imagine your boy loving it, particularly given his recent passions.
Steph Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 8:02 am
That books sounds like the perfect fit I was wondering, at what age did you start reading chapter books aloud to your kids?
Meredith Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I absolutely LOVE Bernd Heinrich, I’ll have to look for this one!! Bear scat, egads!
Theresa ♥ Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 10:27 am
the book looks very interesting. I liked your pictures and I love hearing about your adventures but I’m not so sure I could be quite that close to bears and moose. :S
Kathy Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Whew! Moose and Bear! I showed this post to my children and they’re all geared up to go searching for tracks here (in the Mid-Atlantic region)…;-)
Jennifer Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Terrific photos, is the spider another eyeball spider?
Rhonda Says:
August 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Wonderful blog Theresa and those Monk’s Hood are just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
The Mommy Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 9:18 am
What a wonderful nature-filled day you all had! That book looks and sounds amazing! I love his writing style!
Sara Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 10:42 am
What a cool nature day. We are so jealous of all the wonderful nature you have up there! That spider picture was especially popular with my little ones sitting here on my lap.
familyonbikes Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I love your photos!! Your classroom looks surprisingly like ours.

nancy
www.familyonbikes.org
ruthie Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 7:28 am
wow. makes me want to get out of this neighborhood and go to the state park
what a great education!
wow
Angela, MotherCrone Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Okay…you realize that all those photos have just driven my daughter into a state of coveting Alaskan adventures that is anything but holy. Sigh! I have to agree! But I am thrilled to share vicariously…how wonderful!
Valerie Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I haven’t read that one yet! I will have to check it out.

If you really enjoy the way that book is written, one we found enjoyable was “Amber, the story of a red fox” by Shirley Woods. They are written in a similar no nonsense fashion, but with the beauty and the life of the animal mixed in, very similar to the style of Heinrich. We loved his whole series… mostly nocturnal animals. Very interesting, even for the littles (Cyan was 5 at the time, and she was on the edge of her seat. )

Val