Greenwood Schoolhouse

Take distance learning into nature

Allison Poklemba

Wildfire: Deepening Sense of Place

Activities, Nature Journaling

Free WILDFIRE webinar for educators: 11/12, 3:30-4:00 PT, part 1 of the “Deepening Sense of Place” series.

Wildfire has become an annual teachable moment that we will be living with for decades, especially here in Northern California. Let’s learn more so we have the tools to teach our kids about this important topic, and help them better understand this piece of where they live — ultimately deepening their sense of place.

In this webinar we’ll walk through a collection of lessons and teaching resources, AND be joined by Lenya Quinn-Davidson, the North Coast of CA’s Area Fire Advisor and Director of the Northern California Prescribed Fire Council.

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The Boy Who Was Saved By a Plant Sale

Experiences

I’d like to share with you a story of success. Not to sound flippant, but you know that feeling you get when it seems your child is slipping into a pit of despair? 

Yeah, so do I. 

For me it’s panicky and helpless. My best efforts fruitless at reversing their course knowing that my role is to support from the edge; theirs to lift themselves up and out. Many families in my circle have had this experience as their kids have transitioned to distance learning in these pandemic times. Ours among them. 

This is why right now, as the academic year begins again, I am sharing our story of turning a certain distance learning induced Despair Pit into a Peak Life Experience.

Our boy digging in his garden.

Certainly there must be children who are thriving with Zoom-based school, which is absolutely wonderful. My hunch tells me many are not. That many are struggling to stay joyful, eager learners that feel connected to their community. That their families are struggling to keep them engaged with the hard slog of school at home. 

My hope is that this story will inspire families to be on the lookout for pivot points. To notice when a small shift might make a big difference. To feel as excited about these magical, teachable moments as their kids are. Here is our story . . .

The Boy Who Was Saved By a Plant Sale

Fog, Flowers, and Friday the 13th

“Wow, I can’t believe how lucky we are to be here, TOGETHER, enjoying our forest, our yard, our garden!” 

For a week or two this naive exclamation leapt from our lips. We felt lucky to kick off our mandated pandemic response with work and play from a home we love. It was mid-March 2020 in far northern California’s coastal fog belt, yet a stretch of eerily blue skies and bursting spring blooms eased our family’s transition to what would become our new normal of sheltering at home. When you are accustomed to overcast skies and perennial temps hovering around 61˚F, actual sunshine warming fragrant lilac blooms is intoxicating. This must have been partially to blame for our naivete. 

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Watch It Grow!

Activities, Nature Journaling

When you look out your window, do you see any plants growing outside? Yes? Then this is for YOU! In this activity for your nature journal, Sylas shows us how to track a plant’s growth over time, watching it grow and wondering what will happen. He’s been tracking the growth of a Clintonia lily living in his neighborhood redwood forest, but any plant in your yard or neighborhood will be great for tracking its development.

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