As spring arrives, Room 19, like many other WMS classrooms, is beginning to spend more time exploring the campus and woods. During one of their walks, they searched for signs of spring, observing budding plants and trees and learning about various plant species located on our campus such as Virginia spring beauty wildflowers, eastern redbud trees and mayapples.
The children took a moment to pause on WMS's outdoor stage, where they laid on their backs and gazed up at the canopy, using their senses to observe everything around them. The class watched warblers skillfully capturing insects and woodpeckers drilling holes in trees. They also heard the wrens' sounds of displeasure at the class's close proximity to their nests!
On their way back, the children were able to put their classroom lessons into practice when they encountered an ant hill on their way back. A first-year student exclaimed, "Ants are invertebrates!" and another remarked, "But they have exoskeletons." One child marveled at their strength, saying, "Ants are so strong - they can lift a sandwich!"
The following week, the students returned to the woods for a nature scavenger hunt. They were able to identify and locate some of the plants they had learned about the previous week, while also making new discoveries. The class is eagerly anticipating more opportunities to explore and learn outdoors throughout the remainder of the school year.