Last week ended with a trek deep into the Cecil Floyd Wilderness for some exploration. The goal was to focus in on some details in the area, rather than just look at the big picture.
To encourage that focus on details, I limited students' look to a circle with a rough diameter of one foot. In the time we spent outside, they were to sketch every single detail inside their assigned locations. One group was intrigued by the golf ball embedded in the ground inside their circle. Another found a partial house shingle (possibly left over from the 2011 tornado that swept through the area.
After completing their observations and identifying as many details as they could, we rounded the corner to see more of the trail. A few feet in front of us a large and impressive deer bounded across the trail. Some of the kids in the front of the line got a glimpse at her. We became very still in hopes of seeing another, and before long we were rewarded for our effort as a fawn, having recently lost its spots, appeared. It was skittish, but it finally joined its mother, disappearing from our sight as quickly as it had appeared.
Remembering our project, we returned to the classroom with our observations. Back in the welcome air conditioning, students added color and labels to their sketches.
Remembering our project, we returned to the classroom with our observations. Back in the welcome air conditioning, students added color and labels to their sketches.
