We are observing so many different spiders and insects in the forest! Invasive Joro webs are everywhere, but after looking closely we found native spiny orb weavers, wolf spiders, and more! Our new classroom magnifying lenses have come in very handy for observing these tiny creatures. We’ve also seen gulf frittillary and swallowtail butterflies fluttering through the forest and garden. Students have asked some wonderful questions about cicadas while observing the deceased specimens we have found. “How do they make the rattle sound? With their mouth? With their legs? With their wings?” Their questions have opened deep discussions about how insects make music.
The students were so excited to read a new book added to our library, “What’s Inside A Flower?” (gifted to the class from our wishlist). It’s full of beautiful illustrations that provide close up depictions of flowers and simple answers to so many questions we have heard. It was a great precursor leading to Garden Day!
We had some very special treats this week! Yonah and Marilyn brought pinecone syrup cookies (syrup recipe in link). Tilly and Lilly brought figs from their garden. We have begun to find muscadines ready for harvest in the forest. On Friday, a few students harvested lavender and mint from the class garden and used to make tea for the Nestling Celebration family lunch. Ingredients were not measured when harvested, but I will share a very loose recipe for the tea if you’d like to recreate it with your kiddos at home:
+ + + + + +
1 ½ cup fresh lavender leaves and flowers
1 cup fresh mint leaves
4 cups simmering (not boiling) water
4 cups cold water
ice cubes
Add fresh leaves to a container suitable for hot water (stainless steel, tempered glass, ceramic jar, etc…). Muddle leaves with spoon against the bottom of the container. Pour simmering water over muddled leaves. Add 1 cup of maple syrup and mix until combined. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Strain leaves from tea. Add cold water and ice cubes. Enjoy!
+ + + + + +
Another fun garden day activity for everyone was harvesting sunflower seeds from the giant sunflower heads and black beans from dried pods brought from Deanna’s home garden. We will cook and serve the beans for lunch in an upcoming meal!
Thank you to parents, Kristin and Marilyn, and AFK board members, Anna and Christina, for helping us in the forest this week!
